Rooftop solar scam: 50 more executive engineers likely to be suspended

Many more executive engineers of different Escoms are set to face disciplinary action regarding the alleged scam in sanctioning rooftop solar units.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday warned that about 50 executive engineers would face suspension within a week if the “illegal” agreements signed by them for setting up such plants were not cancelled. Already, about 20 executive engineers have been suspended.

The rooftop solar scheme had been misused by some engineers, who had colluded with investors to grant permission even in cases where there were no buildings at all. Though the State power regulator had reduced the procurement tariff for these units from the earlier Rs. 9.56 a unit to the range of Rs. 5.2 to Rs. 7.08 a unit depending upon their capacity, the engineers had allegedly signed the pacts with old dates to get higher tariff for these unauthorised plants.