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The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has committed to providing up to 100 per cent solar-powered electricity to two villages in each district. Following the success of Manyachiwadi, over 70 other villages across Maharashtra will join this project.
Ahead of assembly polls this year, the Maharashtra Government is going all out to woo voters with new schemes, especially in rural villages.
In a first, the government launched the Solar Village Scheme, aim at providing 100 per cent solar-powered electricity to 100 villages.
With this, Manyachiwadi, a village in Satara has become the first village in the state to be electrified 100 per cent by solar power.
“The objective of the government is zero electricity bills for households. An additional benefit is to also provide farmers with free power. Consumers in Manyachiwadi can use solar power now,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched guidelines this year to establish a model solar village in every district across the country.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced that the state will generate 12,000 MW electricity through solar energy within the next year and a half. He emphasised that this initiative would ensure farmers receive free electricity during the day, aligning with peak agricultural activity times.
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The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has committed to providing up to 100 per cent solar-powered electricity to two villages in each district. Following the success of Manyachiwadi, over 70 other villages across Maharashtra will join this project.
An MNRE notification stated that these model solar villages will be developed as part of the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, with total financial support of around ₹800 crore.
Each model village will receive approximately ₹1 crore to become a symbol of green power adoption. The ministry also outlined that each village will establish 24×7 solar-powered infrastructure, encompassing all households and public areas.
The program aims to promote technologies such as solar-based home lighting systems in every household, solar-powered water systems, solar pumps for agriculture, and the installation of solar street lights along village roads and common infrastructure.
Talking about other states, Under the Solar City programme, the MNRE has supported the development of Modhera in Gujarat, and Konark in Odisha as the solar cities. Several other cities like Ayodhya, Bodh Gaya, and others are in the pipeline to be developed as solar cities.
Through CSR funds NGO solar villages like Barapitha in Odisha and Dharnai in Bihar were developed as a model village.
