Zero Electricity Bills For Domestic Consumers, Free Daytime Power Supply For Farmers Our Goal: States Eknath Shinde In Satara
Zero Electricity Bills For Domestic Consumers, Free Daytime Power Supply For Farmers Our Goal: States Eknath Shinde In Satara
Satara, August 19, 2024: Over the past two and a half years, the state government has made significant strides in the power sector, focusing on the common man. Since April, 4.4 million farmers in the state have been receiving free electricity for the next five years. The Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Feeder Scheme and the Solar Agriculture Pump Scheme aim to provide daytime power supply to farmers. Additionally, under the Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, domestic consumers’ electricity bills are being reduced to zero. The state government is committed to implementing these schemes effectively to provide substantial financial relief to farmers and domestic consumers, assured Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday (August 18).
Manya Chi Wadi village in Patan Taluka (Satara District) has achieved 100% solar electrification, courtesy of MSEDCL. Speaking at the inauguration of Manya Chi Wadi as the state’s first ‘Solar Village,’ Chief Minister Eknath Shinde congratulated Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the state’s accomplishments in the power sector, as well as the village Sarpanch, Ravindra Mane, for leading the first solar village initiative. The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Minister of Women and Child Development Aditi Tatkare, MSEDCL Chairman and Managing Director Lokesh Chandra, Manya Chi Wadi Sarpanch Ravindra Mane, and MSEDCL Project Director Prasad Reshme.
Chief Minister Shinde commended the citizens of Manya Chi Wadi for becoming the first solar village in the state. He emphasized that solar energy is proving to be a boon, especially for domestic consumers and farmers. Through the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, rooftop solar energy projects are reducing domestic consumers’ electricity bills to zero. The state government has also launched the “Solar Agriculture Pump Scheme on Demand,” under which farmers from the general category will pay 10% of the cost, while those from Scheduled Castes and Tribes will pay 5% to receive agricultural pumps and solar panels with a capacity of up to 7.5 horsepower. The remaining cost will be covered by state government subsidies, Shinde explained.
Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted that the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Scheme is providing free electricity to domestic consumers. Within the next year and a half, 12,000 megawatts of electricity will be generated through solar power in the state. This electricity will be supplied to farmers during the day, eliminating the need for them to go to their fields at night for irrigation. The state has made significant progress in solar energy, and Fadnavis expressed his joy at the inauguration of Manya Chi Wadi as the first solar village. The village previously had an electricity bill of INR 525,000, which has now been reduced to zero due to solar energy. A mission to convert 100 villages to 100% solar energy is underway, and the selection of villages has already been completed, Fadnavis stated.
The event was attended by Annasaheb Patil Economic Corporation Chairman Narendra Patil, MLA Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, MLA Mahesh Shinde, MLA Jayakumar Gore, MLA Jayant Asgaonkar, MSEDCL Executive Director Dhananjay Aundhekar, Pune Regional Director Bhujang Khandare, and Chief Engineer Ankush Nale.
