Delhi cabinet Okays rooftop solar power scheme

The Delhi cabinet has approved the "Mukhyamantri Solar Power scheme” which gives residents who install rooftop solar panels a subsidy on their electricity bill for a period of 5 years from the existing 3 years. 

According to a government spokesperson, since the existing scheme Delhi solar policy 2016, was not catching up, they decided to widen the generation-based incentive from 3 to 5 years with a new name. The government is already providing an incentive of 2 Rs/ unit on solar generation for a 3 year period from 2016 -17 to 2018-19, as per the Delhi Solar Policy 2016. 

The cabinet chaired by Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal also approved disbursal of GBI half-yearly instead of yearly by discoms. The government pays the distribution companies as compensation for the GBI disbursed. 

Power Minister Satyender Jain said, "Under the Renewable Energy Service Co-model, the domestic user will not have to spend any money on the installation of solar panels. It will be done by select service providers”.   The cost of electricity generated through the solar power for group housing societies will be 1 Rs/ unit. "The government will offer a subsidy of 2 Rs/ unit to the societies, "he said. 

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Currently, around 105 MW of solar power installed in the national capital covers most government buildings such as DMRC (20 MW), DJB, technical institutions (DTU, NSIT, IP University, IGDTUW), to name a few, the minister said. The cabinet also modified a scheme to grant ex-gratia payment to security personnel and other martyrs from the state. In July, the cabinet had decided to give Rs.1 crore compensation to the kin of martyrs killed on duty. 

Revenue Minister Kailash Gehlot said, "Families of the security personnel living in Delhi for the last 5 years will also be covered in the scheme, irrespective of the state of joining of the personnel. Meanwhile, the final decision will be taken by the group of ministers headed by Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia. The amendment, he said, was made after the murder of BSF head constable Narendra Kumar on the Indo-Pak Border.

The cabinet also approved a proposal of the social welfare department to provide assistance to non-profit organizations for celebrating birth and death anniversaries of eminent personalities.