MNRE’s Plan To Boost Off-Grid Solar In Tribal Areas Gets Impetus

MNRE Increases Funding For PVTG To Rs. 915 Crore

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has secured the sanction of the President for the implementation of its revised funding for the Solar Power Scheme (for tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under PM JANMAN and Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA). This replaces the previous New Solar Power Scheme (for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Habitations/Villages) under PM JANMAN.

The revied scheme aims to electrify 1 lakh un-electrified households (HHs) in tribal and PVTG areas identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) through the provision of off-grid solar systems. Additionally, the scheme includes a provision for the solarization of 2,000 public institutions using off-grid solar systems as approved under PM JUGA. The off-grid solar systems will only be provided where electricity supply through the grid is not techno-economically feasible.

MNRE’s latest notification, as mentioned in the table below, provides a detailed breakdown of the funds allocated for public institutions, with a financial outlay of ₹915 crore to be sourced from the DAPST allocation of the MNRE, with an overall approved financial outlay of ₹915 crore.

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Year-wise funds approved and allocated for the scheme

The notification further indicated that the earlier sanctions and notifications would continue under the erstwhile scheme. It stated, “The implementation of the scheme will come into effect from the date of issue of Administrative Approval along with its Implementation Guidelines. The sanctions and approvals already issued under the previous New Solar Power Scheme (for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Habitations/Villages) under PM JANMAN shall be continued and considered under this scheme.”

Govt To Electrify 1L Unelectrified Tribal Households With Off-Grid Solar

As per the initial scheme launched by MNRE, to electrify the unelectrified households of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). MNRE a notification in this regard said that the ministry had received the accord from the President for the rollout of the new scheme from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The ministry has planned to electrify 1 lakh households in PVTG areas in 18 Indian states.

“The Scheme will cover electrification of One Lakh un-electrified households (HHs) in PVTG areas identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and located in 18 States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, and UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, by provision of off-grid solar systems where electricity supply through grid is not techno-economically feasible,” the notice from MNRE said.

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In addition, the scheme includes a provision for providing solar lighting in 1500 Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas where electricity through grid is not available. As per the scheme’s provisions, there are two components. This includes a provision of 0.3 KW of solar off-grid systems for 1 lakh PVTF households, where the Union government will share 100 percent of the total cost. As per the plan, each household will need Rs 50,000 under the component. The approved financial outlay for the component stands at Rs 500 crore.