The Solar Thermal Federation of
India (STFI), an industry body representing the solar water heater
manufacturers, on Thursday appealed to the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy to release the unpaid subsidies of around ? 350 crore. “About ?50 crore of subsidy
remains unpaid for the year 2012-13 and ?300 crore for 2013-14. Going by
the market growth, the subsidy liability will grow additionally to
about ?500 crore,” said Jaideep Malaviya, secretary general of STFI.
As part of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Solar Mission launched in 2010, consumers could avail
themselves of a subsidy of 30 per cent on solar water heaters. The
subsidy was provided by sellers registered with the MNRE as direct
channel partners under this programme. The sellers were to be reimbursed
by the ministry for providing the subsidy to consumers.
Over the years, solar water
heater manufacturing has risen to 10 lakh sq meters of flat plate
collectors in the country as of 2013-14. However, this amount fell from
14 lakh sq meters in the previous year.
According to STFI, the fall in
production was due to lack of funds with the manufacturers who have dues
pending with banks and suppliers.
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