Two panchayats in erstwhile Khammam win Rs 1 crore each for topping solar adoption

Konijerla in Khammam and Bhadrachalam in Kothagudem have been recognised as model solar villages under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, earning Rs 1 crore each for installing the highest number of rooftop solar plants.

Khammam: Two gram panchayats in the erstwhile Khammam district have secured Rs 1 crore each as an incentive for adopting solar energy.

To promote solar usage in villages, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy identified villages with over 5,000 residents as model solar villages under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. A five-month competition was held from April to October this year and one village each from Khammam and Kothagudem districts was selected as the model solar village for installing the highest number of rooftop solar power plants.

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Konijerla, Tallada, Nelakondapalli, Tanikella, Mudigonda, Kandukur, Annarugudem and Vallabhi in Khammam, and Bhadrachalam, Mandalapalli, Sarapaka, Aswapuram, Dummugudem, Mulkalapalli, Chandrugonda, Cherla, Burgampad, Samithisingaram, Nagineniprolu, Rudrampur, Babu Camp and Kunavaram in Kothagudem, were shortlisted for the initiative.

Of these, Konijerla in Khammam and Bhadrachalam in Kothagudem were selected for the incentive. Konijerla installed 11 solar power plants with a total capacity of 75 kW, while Bhadrachalam installed 208 plants with a capacity of 2,098.15 kW. In all, 299 solar plants were installed in the shortlisted villages in Kothagudem and 47 in Khammam.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Telangana Renewable Energy Development Corporation district manager P Ajay Kumar said the programme was jointly implemented by staff of TGREDCO, TGNPDCL and Panchayat Raj departments.

A detailed project report for both districts will be prepared soon and sent to the Centre after approval by the district-level committee for the utilisation of the Rs 1 crore incentive.

The funds will be used for installing solar plants and solar streetlights for government offices, government schools and water supply services in the selected villages. It will help strengthen energy independence in rural areas and promote the use of green energy, he added.