Step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Bengal in terms of releasing funds has once again come up as a barrier for projects like Aloshree and rooftop solar power generation. The Centre has stopped giving their share of money to the state from November 2016 to implement the projects. This comes at the time when the state government has taken up steps to ensure round-the-clock uninterrupted power supply with no voltage drop.
For the two projects — Aloshree and rooftop solar power generation — the state used to give 70 percent of the total project cost while the Centre used to bear the rest 30 percent.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had over and again protested against reduction in fund that the Centre allots for different projects. There were many projects for which earlier the Centre used to give 75 percent of the project cost and the state government had to give the remaining 25 per cent. At present, the scenario has completely changed as for many projects, the Centre gives only 25 to 30 percent of the project cost while the remaining investment has to be done by the state government. With the Centre not releasing even 30 percent of the project costs, the future of both Aloshree and rooftop solar power project is hanging in balance. The state Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay wrote to the Centre in this regard and even took up the issue during the national-level summit on power in Delhi. But the Centre is yet to take any step in this connection. It may be mentioned that Bengal had received the Centre's acclaim for the implementation of rural electrification project.
The project is on the verge of completion with four villages to get electricity connections. The Aloshree project has seen a great success as the state Power department is installing solar plants on the roof tops of government buildings and schools for creating an alternative source of power.