NT Reporter
Panaji
Amid the government push for solar energy, Vision Royale Cooperative Housing Maintenance Society in Merces has moved towards adopting solar power.
The housing society has installed a 15 kW solar plant for its common areas, which is expected to bring down the electricity bill of the society to zero. In addition, 20 homes in the residential complex have adopted solar energy for personal consumption.
The rooftop solar system was inaugurated by Santa Cruz MLA Rodolfo Fernandes in the presence of Goa Energy Development Agency Assistant Manager (Engineering) Anupa Khorjuvekar, society secretary Prashant Mantri, Anmax Energy CEO Shreya Phadte, founding director Anant Kochhar and residents.
The project has been implemented under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the Goa State Solar Subsidy Scheme.
“The society’s initiative turned residents from electricity consumers into zero-electricity bill recipients and surplus energy producers within a circular energy ecosystem. Society rooftops, once seen as idle, unclaimed spaces, are now becoming part of the solar power network in India,” Kochhar said.
Speaking at the function, Fernandes said, “I used to get a bill of almost Rs 22,000. Post installing solar technology, I now receive a bill of barely Rs 100. I truly believe solar power is beneficial to residents. I hope other housing societies and individual homeowners take up solar technology after witnessing the success of the project at this housing society.”
On October 27, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Goa, issued a circular for housing societies on implementing the PM Muft Bijli Yojana and availing subsidy benefits for rooftop solar installations.
“The circular has unlocked the full potential of roofs and terraces of housing societies which were going unused and vacant,” officials of Anmax Energy said.
The solar installation at Vision Royale is priced at Rs 45,000 per kW, which is the government rate, with a total subsidy of 90 per cent.
