Maharashtra has proudly introduced its first solar village with the complete solarization of Manyachiwadi in Satara district, inaugurated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. During the ceremony, Shinde announced that the village’s households will benefit from zero electricity bills, thanks to rooftop solar installations supported by the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
MSEDCL Director Prasad Reshme announced that the entire village, with a population of 420, has been equipped with 102 rooftop solar connections. Out of these, 97 are for residential use, allowing consumers to enjoy up to 300 kWh of free power each month, leading to zero electricity bills. Moreover, any surplus solar energy generated can be sold back to MSEDCL, providing residents an additional income stream.
The street lights in the area are now powered by grid-connected solar energy, and the public water supply system operates on renewable energy. The village school, gram panchayat office, and a local flour mill are equipped with rooftop solar installations to fulfill their energy needs.
MSEDCL Managing Director Lokesh Chandra announced that the village is fully solarized, and the CM aims to solarize 100 more villages across Maharashtra. Under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, domestic consumers in these villages can receive up to Rs 78,000 in subsidies for installing solar panels with a capacity of up to 3 kW. This will allow them to generate their own electricity and earn extra income by selling surplus power to MSEDCL at Rs 2.87 per unit.
Farmers in the village will benefit from free daytime power for solar pumps up to 7.5 HP under a government scheme. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that 12,800 MW of solar power capacity will be developed within 18 months, ensuring 8 to 10 hours of daytime irrigation power. This will eliminate the need for farmers to visit their farms at night.
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Resource: The Times of India
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