Kangra Village to Light Up with Solar Power

Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh – Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa on Tuesday said that Kangra district would develop a model solar village under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. According to sources, in the first meeting of the DLCC, Bairwa has decided that the selected village would act as a prototype for adopting renewable energy in the region and declaring Kangra’s commitment towards sustainable energy solutions. This is an initiative towards making Kangra one of the districts in Himachal Pradesh, which will emerge as the leader in terms of adopting renewable energy. It shall also serve as a prototype for other states to undertake similar projects.

Model Solar Village Selection Criterion

This is an initiative at its nascent stage. Model solar village selection criteria are defined. A village having a population above 2,000 and having ongoing initiatives about non-conventional energy practices shall be selected. This strategy is meant to make maximum benefit from the model village by choosing a village which is already quite familiar with alternative sources of energy so that the process would go relatively smoothly while introducing the solar technologies. To establish the chosen village, the government will offer Rs 1 crore as an infrastructural and equipment facility with other necessary facilities for creating a sustainable community of solar power.

Lists of eligible villages have already been distributed among various circles of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, mainly in the Kangra, Dehra, and Dalhousie areas. The district officials have been directed to fast-track the final selection process so that the scheme is rolled out well in time. After a village is selected, there will be a specialized body called the Model Solar Village Implementation Agency that will develop a comprehensive project report (DPR). This DPR shall detail the steps and technology required to facilitate the village to become a solar power centre.

Scheme Objectives

The Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar’s free electricity scheme aims at reducing dependency on conventional means of power through the clean and sustainable mean of solar energy. Under this scheme, monetary benefits are offered to the households for choosing grid-connected rooftop solar power systems. Under the scheme, the government offers hefty subsides to the residents while installing up to 3 kW systems. For a 2 kW system, the household is eligible to get a 60 percent subsidy, which amounts to Rs 33,000 per kW. For additional 1 kW, subsidy is kept at 40 percent, and an incentive of Rs 19,800 is provided to encourage installation of more solar technology.

Steps Towards Solar-Powered Communities

The model village selected will have the full infrastructure of solar power implemented for it. The objective will be to make the entire village a self-sustaining, solar-powered community; eventually, this will turn out to be a good example for other regions within Kangra and other locations. The plan is to introduce solar power but create a roadmap for energy independence at the village level. Everything, from planning to execution, will be covered by the Model Solar Village Implementation Agency to ensure proper infrastructure in place for energy production and utilization.

The key objectives for this agency will be managing procurement, setting up the solar systems, and training community members on how to maintain them over the long term. This holistic approach will ensure the sustainability of the solar village project, providing the residents with the skills and resources to support and maintain their solar systems independently.

Application and Benefits for Residents

The portal has helped make the application process smoother by allowing ready access to the eligibility criteria, documents required, and even more details on the subsidy structure. Interested residents can now log on to the PM Surya Ghar online portal to apply for the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme.

The scheme provides enormous subsidies to reduce the economic load on families and in that manner, makes solar power solutions more economical for them. The rooftop solar systems reduce the monthly electricity bills but also bring a clean environment due to reduced fossil fuel consumption. Excess electricity produced by grid-connected solar systems can be fed back into the grid and therefore, it brings in additional monetary benefits for the family.

Commitment to renewable energy sources Kangra

If the PM Surya Ghar scheme is properly implemented, sustainable energy will be made available to more and more people of the district,” said Bairwa. Kangra hopes to become a role model at the district level in the state of Himachal Pradesh, which could inspire similar initiatives in other parts of the state. Kangra district administration, headed by DC Bairwa, has promised to take these initiatives forward on renewable energy in Kangra.

Challenges and Prospects for the Future

Implementation of solar infrastructure at the village level involves a myriad of problems. Amongst them, logistics problems pertaining to transportation equipment, supplying skilled technicians, and ongoing maintenance to enhance efficiency present themselves as the greatest hurdles. With adequate planning, this model can also mitigate those problems by an implementing agency.

The project also leaves avenues open for future expansions, such as integrating solar power with other green technologies, such as energy storage systems or solar-powered irrigation pumps for agriculture. If the model is successful, the Kangra model solar village could be a foundation for larger renewable energy programs in Himachal Pradesh.

Conclusion

A model solar village in Kangra under the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme is an important step toward making Himachal Pradesh sustainable communities. Strong government support, substantial financial subsidies along with a clear focus on involving the community move this initiative closer to setting a benchmark for rural renewable energy adoption. As the project progresses, it will be considered a model for other areas that would like to have less reliance on traditional forms of power and more usage of green energy solutions.

Source: Statements from Kangra District Administration and briefing by Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa to the District Level Coordination Committee.