Bhubaneswar, July 2:The Odisha government has initiated the rollout of the Prime Minister's Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aiming to provide 300 units of free electricity each month to one crore households nationwide through rooftop solar installations.
In response to the previous BJD government's pledge of 100 units of free electricity per household monthly, the BJP had countered with a promise to implement the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This scheme seeks to deliver electricity via solar installations at minimal or no cost.
Two weeks after the BJP assumed power in the state, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water (PR&DW) department instructed districts to direct panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) to promote solar energy adoption under the programme. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, the scheme aims to bolster the local economy, generate employment, enhance energy security, and support the country's green climate goals through rooftop solar by 2026-27.
Under this scheme, PRIs will receive incentives to promote rooftop solar installations within rural communities. Households will receive subsidies covering up to 40% of the solar panel costs. These rooftop solar photovoltaic systems can be installed on any roof with adequate load-bearing capacity.
Consumers with an average monthly electricity consumption of 150 units who install a system of one to two kilowatts are eligible for central financial assistance (CFA) ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000. For those with monthly consumption of 150 to 300 units and an installed capacity of two to three kilowatts, the CFA ranges from Rs 60,000 to Rs 78,000.
Special Secretary of the PR&DW department, Swayamprava Mohanty, has instructed collectors to initially engage panchayats involved in thematic planning to promote solar energy adoption among nearby households. Efforts are being made to reach a broader audience and raise awareness about the scheme's benefits.
To date, the PM-Surya Ghar portal has received 43,101 applications from 30 districts in Odisha, with 75 vendors registered to supply solar panels. Balasore leads with 4,136 applications, followed by Bhadrak (3,330), Jajpur (2,325), and Khurda (1,830).
