The 500-kW solar plant at Gubbar (Pargod) village in the Lanj area of Kangra district is in its final installation stage, according to HIMURJA Project Officer Arun Bhardwaj. Built on 20 kanals of government land, the ground-mounted facility will soon start feeding clean electricity into the grid.
Revenue-Sharing Model to Benefit Panchayats
Under the Green Panchayat Scheme, launched by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, each 500-kW solar plant costs around Rs 2 crore and is expected to generate about 8 lakh units of electricity annually. The electricity will be sold to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board under a power purchase agreement.
The World Bank-backed programme uses a revenue-sharing model: 20% of revenue goes to the state government, 30% to HIMURJA for operation and maintenance, and the remaining 50% is reserved for community welfare. Half of that community share will fund local development works like roads, drinking water, and sanitation, while the other half will provide financial assistance to orphaned children and widowed women in the panchayat.
Officials Highlight Dual Benefits of Solar Initiative
Arun Bhardwaj said the plant is expected to generate nearly Rs 1 lakh in monthly income for the panchayat, creating a stable funding source. He added that 15 to 20 similar projects have been proposed in Kangra district under the scheme.
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said the scheme has moved from planning to implementation, with encouraging results already visible. He noted that the solar plant was set up on previously unused government land, providing dual benefits: expanding renewable energy capacity and generating steady revenue for rural local bodies. Bairwa added that selected gram panchayats in almost every Assembly constituency of Kangra district will be covered under the programme in the coming years, helping the state achieve its green energy goals while accelerating grassroots development.
Green Panchayat Scheme: A Step Toward Sustainable Rural Development
The scheme aims to establish 500-kW solar plants in 100 gram panchayats across Himachal Pradesh. Each plant will reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy. The revenue-sharing model ensures that financial gains directly benefit local communities. HIMURJA, the state nodal agency for renewable energy, is overseeing implementation. The World Bank support adds international credibility to the initiative, which aligns with the state’s ambition to become a green energy state.
With the Gubbar plant nearing completion, Himachal Pradesh is taking a concrete step toward integrating clean energy with rural prosperity. The monthly income of nearly Rs 1 lakh will enable panchayats to fund essential services and welfare programs without relying solely on state allocations.
