Govt working to resolve power crisis by next fiscal: Commissioner
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 11 2025: Attributing the current power crisis in the state to lack of access to adequate energy sources with low revenue return, power commissioner Dr Sailesh Kumar Chourasia said that the government is working to resolve the issue of load shedding by next financial year.

Speaking at the flag-off event of a tableau of Prime "Minister Surya Ghar; Muft Bijli Yojana" at MSPCL office complex, North AOC, here, on Tuesday, the commissioner noted that generally, the state faces power crisis from January to March.

Informing that the department had started energy banking policy from last year to store surplus energy, he expressed confidence that the problem could be addressed by the end of the current month.

Govt working to resolve power crisis by next fiscal: Commissioner

Failure to pay bills and using electricity through fraudulent connections are the main reason behind the low revenue, consequently denting the department's ability to purchase the required amount of power.

Works on installing prepaid meters in every household is going on, he said and urged the public to pay electricity bill regularly.

Dr Chourasia described PM Surya Ghar as an ambitious initiative by the Government of India.

He highlighted the scheme's relevance for Manipur, noting its multiple benefits, including reducing electricity costs for consumers, supporting government efforts in energy sustainability, and promoting environmental conservation.

Dr Chourasia emphasised that there is no restriction on the number of rooftop solar installations eligible for government subsidies under this scheme.

While the campaign aims to enhance public awareness, he noted that the number of applications received to date has been below expectations for both the Government of India and the state of Manipur.

He reiterated ongoing efforts to maximise solar energy adoption among households, stressing that the initiative would not only lead to substantial savings on electricity bills for consumers but also contribute to the state's renewable energy generation.

The commissioner urged residents to apply for the scheme through the national web portal 'pmsuryaghar.gov.in' at the earliest to take full advantage of its benefits.

As part of the awareness campaign, Dr Chourasia also flagged off two vehicles equipped with loudspeakers and posters, designed to disseminate information about PM Surya Ghar and encourage public participation.

These vehicles will travel across various locations to enhance outreach efforts.

The event was attended by Hijam Shantikumar Singh, managing director MSPDCL, Dr Th Charanjeet Singh, executive director (HR/Admin/IT/Legal) MSPDCL, Mangsatabam Rabi Singh, executive director (technical), Th Kirankumar Singh, general manager (commercial), along with other officers and staff members of MSPDCL.

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 29, 2024, aims to boost solar rooftop installations across the country.

The scheme initiated under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), empowers residential households to generate their own electricity.

One of the scheme's highlights is the central government-provided subsidy to enhance the affordability of solar energy.

Following the scheme's nationwide launch, MSPDCL has initiated rooftop solar installations across Manipur, benefiting over 200 residential consumers to date.

As per MNRE benchmarks, the tentative cost for 1 kW rooftop solar system under the PM Surya Ghar scheme is Rs 55,000, with a central government subsidy of Rs 33,000, while the tentative cost for 2 kW is Rs 1,10,000, with a subsidy of Rs 66,000 and that of 3 kW is Rs 1,59,500 with a subsidy of Rs 85,800 .

All residential consumers of MSPDCL are eligible to apply for low-interest loans from any nationalised banks to install rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Scheme.