Panaji (Goa): The State cabinet today approved the Solar Power Policy, with an aim to generate 150 MW of green power by 2021.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Parrikar said that cabinet has approved the Solar power policy, which is an initiative towards producing green power in the State and reduce the carbon footprints.

Parrikar said that the policy is a robust policy which would be functional by the end of current financial year ending March 31.

Parrikar said that the policy is divided into two categories. The first category speaks about the prosumer/ consumers, which will generate power less than 100 KW of power. This will include small commercial establishments, houses, residential societies or buildings having less than 10 flats.

“These consumers will be allowed gross metering. That is State will compensate the consumer for power generation in addition to its consumption,” he said.

In case of the units producing more than 100 KV power will be compensated on net metering as he would be participating in the reverse gridding of the power.

The policy also encourages power generation by individuals who have available land at the disposal of their own or can procure NOC from the land owners to set up the unit “The land owner would be spared from conversion of his land under Town and Country Planning Act or permission from local panchayat or civic body, if he is installing solar power generation plant under the policy,” Chief Minister said.

The policy also speaks about providing 50 per cent of the installation cost as interest-free loans to the units, which can be repaid in the form of supply of power to the State, six months after the unit is functional.

Parrikar said that the Housing colonies can have their roof top solar power generation by employing one contractor if all the owners come together.