At least one village in every district to be developed as model solar village, says Minister for Energy

At least one village in every district will be developed as a ‘model solar village’, Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said while reviewing power sector initiatives with officials of APCPDCL and NREDCAP, at Secretariat here on Tuesday (March 31).

The Minister directed officials to accelerate the implementation of key schemes, including PM Surya Ghar, RDSS, and PM Kusum, with a focus on improving agricultural power connections and addressing low-voltage issues in rural areas. He said free benefits under PM Surya Ghar are being extended to SC and ST households, and stressed the need to complete the six lakh sanctioned connections through better coordination among departments.

Emphasising quality, Mr. Ravi Kumar instructed authorities to ensure timely completion of solar projects while maintaining standards. He also called for widespread awareness among consumers on the use of solar panels.

The Minister urged officials to fast-track pending works under RDSS and expedite PM Kusum projects, while coordinating with district collectors for land allocation. He also directed that pending agricultural electricity connections in APCPDCL limits be cleared at the earliest.

Further, he stressed the need to curb transformer thefts and resolve low-voltage issues, noting that new transformers are being installed in affected areas. Officials were also asked to enhance consumer satisfaction levels to 90%.