PM KUSUM: Haryana Orders To Forfeit Deposits Of Errant Solar Firms

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The Haryana New and Renewable Department, in its latest order, has threatened to take stringent action against errant solar companies working under the PM-KUSUM scheme. The order came to the fore after the department received several complaints from farmers against these companies. These complaints were related to delays or no response from these firms when repair requests were made to them. 

Considering several of these complaints, the department decided to get this equipment repaired in the local areas. However, the order said the concerned solar company would face the music in such a case. 

“If any defective pump of a firm is repaired by the office from the local market after the expiration of the stipulated rectification period, the firm will be considered as a non-performer, and they will have to submit the 10 percent Bank Guarantee of the total work order value as CPG and other penal action will also be taken against them as per terms and conditions of the tender,” the order said. 

State Admits Defaults 

In its letter, the state has openly admitted to receiving such complaints from farmers. It said that during its recent meeting with district officers and empanelled vendors of the PM-KUSUM scheme on July 5, it was observed that various complaints regarding the repair of solar water pumping systems were pending on the CM winddown portal or the PM-KUSUM portal. The department said these remained unattended by the firms despite repeated requests by district offices and by the department. 

It goes against the norms of the scheme, which mandate the developers to attend such service calls at the earliest while it asks them to repair or restore the same within three days from the date of complaint received. These norms also claim that if the service is not done within the stipulated time, the solar firms would have to pay Rs 100 per pump per day for the first three days and Rs 500 per pump per day. 

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Direction to District Officials 

In its latest order, the department also explored other ways to get the repair work done as soon as possible. It has directed the district officials to get this equipment repaired in the local market in case the developers don’t respond to such complaints within the stipulated time.

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It also asked the district officials to make estimates of the expenditure to the state department. The department has proposed to recover these funds as penalties from the errant solar companies. This order was confined to Component B of the PM-KUSUM scheme, which talks about solar pumps for farmers.