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Rs 15 -crore discrepancies surface in solar power panel project

Dehradun: A subsidy scam of over Rs 15 crore in the allotment of the solar rooftop projects has hit the state's power department after a union ministry of renewable energy team had red-flagged the glaring discrepancies in the selection of 11 ineligible firms in Uttarakhand.

State government sources told TOI that the 11 firms were given the license to set up solar rooftop plants in 2016-17 and Rs 15-crore subsidy was allocated to them from the union minister of renewable ministry. However, when Union ministry officials came for inspection recently, they found that the firms had split the project into two sections — roof top and land nearby.

To promote solar power generation in the state, under the central government scheme, the nodal department — Uttarakhand renewable energy development authority (UREDA) — had granted the projects to 11 firms. However, there were allegations that the proposals of firms and individuals having influence were favoured by the UREDA. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said if he is approached with evidence, he will order a SIT probe into the matter.

UREDA director A K Tyagi claimed that the issue has been blown out of proportion. "Permissions were given on first-come-first-serve basis and only firms fulfilling the technical and financial conditions were cleared. The allegations of favoritism are baseless. The permission of mixed mode model that is rooftop and land-based was as per the guidelines of the central government."