Minister for Information and Public Relations K.C. Joseph has said that the solar panel at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) was installed as part of the Soorya Keralam campaign of the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) and that there was nothing controversial or illegal about the installation.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Joseph termed the Opposition’s attempt to put the solar panel installation at the CMO under a cloud by levelling ‘baseless’ allegations unfortunate. The panel was installed in June 2012 at a cost of Rs.2.2 lakh, when the Centre’s regulations had stipulated the cost for a 1 kW solar panel at Rs.2.7 lakh.
The unit, which generates five units of power a day, has produced about 1,500 units so far, powering over 20 tube lights and fans at the CMO. The installation, including the maximum power point tracking charger and inverter, was done by Megabyte Technologies. The solar panel was supplied by Ammini Solar Pvt Ltd, a firm recognized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The tubular battery was supplied by AMCO Batteries, another Ministry-approved company, Mr. Joseph said.
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Stating that Megabyte Technologies was selected on the recommendation of energy expert and social activist R.V.G. Menon, a member of a high-level committee on solar energy, Mr. Joseph said Dr. Menon had suggested the company since he himself had obtained its services for his residence. ‘‘No tender procedures were followed since this was just part of C-DIT’s Soorya Keralam campaign and to showcase the use of solar power at the CMO,’’ he said.
The Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) had not empanelled any firm at that time, and it was only six months later that ANERT’s list of empanelled firms for installation of solar panels in the State was released. Megabyte had found a place on the list by then, the Minister said adding that neither Megabyte nor C-DIT had availed itself of any subsidy for the installation. In fact, they had managed to do the installation at a cost Rs.50,000 less than the then approved rate.