Rooftop solar system installed at SC household in Nellore, connected to grid

For the first time in SPSR Nellore district, rooftop solar systems (RTS) were installed at the home of an SC/ST consumer in Ramachandrapuram village in Buchireddypalem (Buchi) mandal on Friday (March 27) and successfully connected to the grid of the A.P. Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL).

The installation was part of the government scheme of offering free solar power to members of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. Under the scheme, the cost of the RTS systems is shared between the Centre (through subsidy) and the State.

It was in February last year that the State government gave administrative sanction to implement the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, in alignment with Jagjeevan Jyothi Yojana Scheme, to provide free solar power to 20 lakh SC and ST consumers. Following completion of tendering, the implementation began recently.

In a press release on Saturday (March 28), APSPDCL Chairperson and Managing Director Siva Sankar Lotheti said staff have been directed to accelerate the installation of RTS systems in coordination with the contractors.

In a review meeting, Prakasam District Collector P. Raja Babu directed the officials and vendors to expedite the process and sought details on its progress. He warned that strict action would be taken against vendors if they supply defective equipment and instructed the officials to spread awareness among the people on the scheme.

Speaking to The Hindu, APSPDCL Nellore Superintending Engineer K. Raghavendram said nearly 40,000 SC/ST households who consume up to 200 units a month are eligible for the scheme in the district. Third-party vendors have been finalised for five regions for the installation of RTS systems of up to 2 kWp. He added that the implementation of the scheme was progressing rapidly in the district.