Big boost to ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’ in Nellore

Sri Potti Sriramulu (SPSR) district in Nellore is all set to tap power from the Sun in a big way, as six villages from this district have been selected for the prestigious solar project.

The district administration has identified Leguntapadu, Bitragunta, Mahimaluru, Kalivelapalem, Manubolu and Kakupalli, spread across various Assembly segments under the Nellore Parliamentary constituency, for promoting solar power on a pilot basis.

Reducing grid dependence

Nellore district Collector Himanshu Shukla, during a recent review meeting with Power Department officials, stated that the intention of the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana’ is to generate green and pollution-free energy in rural areas, besides reducing grid dependence.

The plan entails not only providing solar-based home lighting systems in every household, but also expanding the usage of solar power in public utility systems such as water supply, street lighting, community halls etc., a step considered a major leap in moving away from conventional energy sources.

Even agricultural pumpsets are likely to tap electricity from an array of solar panels, thus insulating the farm sector from the power fluctuations that are common during summer.

The identified villages are also expected to make the most of the opportunity for transformation, as the one excelling on this front will get an incentive of ₹1 crore from the Union government towards its overall development, not to mention the coveted title of “model solar village”.

Public awareness

Member of Parliament (Nellore) Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, who has expressed happiness over the proposal, has appealed to the public representatives at the grassroots level to create public awareness about the advantages of grid-free solar power.

He also thanked Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for considering his Nellore LS constituency for various developmental projects.