Gated communities in Hyderabad seek easing of norms to be eligible for Central govt’s solar power scheme

These residents are keen to take advantage of the benefits offered by the scheme but are requesting specific exemptions to make the installation process more feasible for their communities

Hyderabad: Residents of city-based gated community housing developments, who are interested in installing rooftop solar power systems, are seeking an exemption under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

These residents are keen to take advantage of the benefits offered by the scheme but are requesting specific exemptions to make the installation process more feasible for their communities. The initiative aims to promote the use of renewable energy sources, and the residents believe such exemptions would encourage more widespread adoption of solar power systems.

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For instance, Aparna Sarovar in Nallagandla of the Serilingampally has numerous high-rise apartments. There are 1,200 flats built on 14 blocks in Aparna Sarovar, and the owners of these flats are currently using conventional energy (electricity) and paying Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 towards monthly power bills to the TSSPDCL.

“We are planning to utilise the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, install the solar system, and save on the monthly power bills,” President of the Aparna Sarovar Owners Welfare Society, Sathinder Reddy, told ‘Telangana Today’.

Flat owners of Aparna Sarovar gated community are keen to adopt rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, but they want a subsidy to utilise the scheme by making the eligibility criteria.

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana states a subsidy of Rs 18,000 per kilowatt will be given to the group housing society/resident welfare association for common facilities, including EV charging, up to 500 KW capacity (@3 KW per house with the upper limit being inclusive of individual rooftop plants installed by individual residents in the GHS/RWA), he said.

“As owners, we are requesting the Central government to give eligibility criteria to the gated community, also considering it as one unit instead of an individual flat. We have surveyed the solar power system in our gated community, too,” said Sathinder Reddy.

Not only in my gated community, but also in the Nallagandla area, other high-rise apartments and gated community owners are also interested in utilising the solar power system and seeking eligibility provision in the central government scheme. “This, if provided, will help in the supply of electricity to areas which are facing power problems,” he added.