Manyachiwadi, a small town in the Patan subdivision of Satara district, has become the first village in Maharashtra to be 100 percent electrified by solar power.
On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched the Solar Village Scheme, an initiative to provide 100 villages with 100 percent solar-powered electricity, at a function in Satara.
“The objective of the government is zero electricity bills for households as part of the PM Suryagarh Muft Bijali Yojana. The aim is to also provide farmers with free power,” CM Shinde said in his speech.
He added that the state government is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing the dependency on traditional power sources.
He also mentioned that the state government is providing farmers with up to a 95 percent subsidy for installing solar pump sets.
Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced that the state would generate 12,000 MW of electricity through solar energy within the next year and a half, ensuring farmers can get free electricity during the day when most agricultural activities are done.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. announced at the event that Shivtirth Nagar in Kothrud and Sector 25 in Nigdi will be electrified 100 percent with solar power. The power utility has decided to completely electrify two villages in each district with solar energy.
According to the Central Electricity Authority’s periodic report released last month, Maharashtra has an installed renewable energy capacity of about 18,729 MW, making it the fifth largest state after Rajasthan, with 30,151 MW, Gujarat, with 27,681 MW, Tamil Nadu, with 23,109 MW, and Karnataka, with 22,160 MW.
The concerted efforts of the government, alongside the support of the local communities, highlight the transformative potential of renewable energy in revolutionizing rural electrification and fostering a sustainable economic and environmental landscape.
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