Solar body alleges corruption hit 4,000 MW projects under previous TN government; new govt suspends
The Indian Solar Association has accused the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu of corruption that affected solar energy projects totalling nearly 4,000 MW. C. Narasimhan, president of the association, made the allegations while addressing reporters.
Narasimhan claimed that in Virudhunagar district, a substation intended for 1,750 MW of solar energy was allegedly sold by some DMK ministers. He said there were similar complaints in other parts of the state. The current government, led by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has suspended these projects and initiated action against officials, he added.
The association president also said investors who had planned to set up solar projects under the previous dispensation should now apply online and obtain fresh government approvals. This, he said, would help restore transparency and ensure that the benefits of renewable energy reach the public without any corruption.
Welcoming the recent Tamil Nadu Budget announcement extending subsidies for rooftop solar energy, Narasimhan said the central government provides ₹78,000 per kW under the PM Rooftop Solar Scheme. The state government has announced an additional ₹22,000 per connection for one lakh households. He noted that while 60 lakh households have benefited from the central scheme across the country, fewer than 50,000 have benefited in Tamil Nadu. About 1,000 applications are pending in the state, he said.
On the shortage of solar cells for panel production, Narasimhan said India currently has indigenous capacity to produce 65 GW of solar cells, whereas solar module production capacity stands at 161 GW. Industry stakeholders had appealed to the government to allow cell imports until domestic capacity meets the demand. After some industry associations obtained a stay from a court, imported cells have started arriving, he added.
There was no immediate response from the DMK to these allegations. The claims have not been independently verified by this publication.
