Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): Nagaland recovers only around 40% of its expenditure on electricity purchased from other states through revenue, minister for PHED and cooperation Jacob Zhimomi said on Wednesday highlighting the financial burden of meeting the state’s growing power demand.
Speaking at the inaugural programme of Seva Setu Abhiyan under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana at the deputy commissioner (DC) office, Chümoukedima, Zhimomi urged eligible households to adopt rooftop solar to reduce electricity bills and ease the state’s dependence on purchased power.
He said Nagaland’s power demand had increased significantly due to urbanisation and rising household consumption, while the state remained unable to meet its entire requirement internally.
Zhimomi said the scheme’s initial target of 10,000 households was limited considering Nagaland had 1,487 villages, and urged eligible residents to avail themselves of the opportunity.
He also stressed the need for quality installation by empanelled vendors, warning that poor workmanship could undermine the benefits of the scheme.
During the programme, Zhimomi received a 3kW rooftop solar system donated by empanelled vendors.
The minister announced that he would hand it over to the Sovima village council for installation at its community hall so the wider community could benefit.
Electrical division Chümoukedima executive engineer Albert Ovung said Nagaland had covered only around 800 households against the target of 10,000 under the scheme, despite substantial state subsidies and low-interest bank loans.
Ovung said Nagaland’s power requirement was around 200MW and projected to rise to 300MW by 2030.
Meeting the additional demand through hydropower would take considerable time because of land-related issues and lengthy construction periods, while procuring an additional 100 MW at current rates could cost the state around Rs.450 crore by 2030.
He said Seva Setu would function as a single-window facilitation centre, helping residents register and apply through the national portal, consult empanelled vendors, access bank loans and resolve issues related to installation, net metering and subsidy disbursement.
Ovung also said Sovima village had recorded the highest installed solar capacity in Chümoukedima district under the model solar village competition and had been recommended for consideration under the initiative, which provides a central grant of Rs.1 crore for renewable energy projects.
Under the Nagaland Solar Mission, around 24 villages in Chümoukedima district had been covered under the Chief Minister’s Community Solar Partnership initiative, with 14 to 15 villages completing installations at their community halls, he added.
The programme was chaired by EAC headquarters, Chümoukedima Khriengunuo Theunuo while DC Polan John delivered the welcome address. SDO (Electrical), Chümoukedima Vikhozolie Nisa proposed the vote of thanks. The programme also included testimonials from beneficiaries of rooftop solar systems.
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