Manyachiwadi: First ‘Solar Village’ of Maharashtra

Manyachiwadi: Maharashtra's First Solar Village

• Manyachiwadi in Satara district became Mah arashtra's first 'Solar Village'
• Inaugurated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on August 18, 2024
• 102 rooftop solar connections installed, covering all households
• Population of 420 now enjoys zero-amount electricity bills
• Public infrastructure, including street lights, water supply, school, gram panchayat office, and flour mill, powered by solar energy
• Residents can earn extra income by selling surplus solar energy to MSEDCL

Solar Village Scheme and Government Initiatives

• Aims to power 100 villages with 100% solar energy
• Two villages in each district to receive up to 100% solar-powered electricity
• Part of the larger PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
• Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) to implement the scheme
• Over 70 villages across Maharashtra to join the project
• Future projects include Shivtirth Nagar in Kothrud and Sector 25 in Nigdi
• State government provides 90-95% subsidy to farmers for solar pump sets under Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Pump Yojana

Goals and Benefits of Solar Village Scheme

• Promote renewable energy and reduce dependency on traditional power sources
• Provide free electricity to households under PM Suryagarh Muft Bijali Yojana
• Offer free power to farmers, especially during peak agricultural activity times
• Reduce electricity costs for residents
• Generate 12,000 MW of electricity through solar energy in the next 1.5 years
• Support India's renewable energy goals
• Boost local economies and improve quality of life in rural areas

National Context and Challenges

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched guidelines for model solar villages
• Approximately Rs 800 crore allocated for the national project
• Each model village to receive about Rs 1 crore for development
• Solar cities program includes Modhera (Gujarat) and Konark (Odisha), with more in pipeline

Challenges include:

• • Lack of funding for long-term maintenance
  • Unclear plans for operations after warranty periods
  • Some past projects failed due to inadequate repair and maintenance
  • Need for clarity on Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding