Haryana to set up 'Akshay Urja' shops

Chandigarh, Aug 18 (UNI) 'Akshay Urja' shops will be set up at all district headquarters of Haryana with a view to providing sales and service outlets of renewable energy based devices and their know-how to the consumers.

Stating this here today, Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan said the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had also initiated a new programme to provide financial assistance to the entrepreneurs for setting up of Akshay Urja Shops at the district level.

He said under the programme, soft loan at the rate of interest of seven per cent to a maximum of 85 per cent of the cost of total establishment of shop subject to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh would be provided to the beneficiaries. He said that the loan would be provided through the public sector and scheduled cooperative banks and it would be repayable over a period of five years.

Besides, a recurring grant of Rs 5000 per month towards manpower, electricity, telephone bills and other miscellaneous expenses would also be made available.

He said an incentive of Rs 5000 per month based on minimum turnover of Rs 50,000 per month during the first year and Rs one lakh per month during the second year of operation would be provided.

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) had executed a memorandum of understanding with Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce for operating the scheme.

UNI