THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The project is to install solar panel atop a house. The Centre gives 30 pc subsidy and State gives 10 per cent. In Kerala, the subsidised charge demanded by ANERT for installing 3 Kilowatt solar panel is Rs 1:35 lakh. In Gujarat, the amount is just Rs 81,430. In Kerala a customer has to pay Rs 53,570 more. By now, ANERT has sold solar panels to more than 1200 customers, generating an income of for Rs 16 crore. If we compare this business with that done in Gujarat, about Rs 6:5 crore has gone into the pockets of fraudsters.

How has it happened?

It is solely ANERT that is implementing solar panel installation project in Kerala, under the title ‘Buy My Sun’. It is their foul play that is increasing the cost of installation.

The Centre’s instruction has been to implement the project for the lowest price through a competitive auction. The ANERT reportedly sabotaged this.
As per the Centre’s instruction the maximum price is Rs 1.80 lakh. After Central and State subsidies, the roof top solar panel should have been installed for Rs 1.08 lakh.

But ANERT increased it by Rs 46,000 and handed over the project to private agencies for Rs 2.26 lakh. That is why costumers have to pay Rs 1.35 lakh. Thus the benefits of the subsidy usually go to the private agencies and through them to the pockets of certain top officers.

Currently there are 19 agencies in the business.

People get attracted to the project as there is an offer that the KSEB will buy the excess electricity produced in houses using governments’ subsidised solar panels.