Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka made a major announcement on Monday. He said the Telangana government is actively considering a plan to install solar power plants on all government schools and offices across the state. The government also wants to promote large-scale solar power generation everywhere.
Free Solar Units for Farmers
Vikramarka directly appealed to the state's farmers. He urged them to install solar units on their agricultural pump sets. The Deputy CM gave a firm assurance. The government will bear the entire cost of these installations for farmers.
He explained the clear economic benefit for farmers. Solar power generation happens all year round. However, farming operations typically last only about seven months. This creates a surplus. Farmers can sell this extra electricity to power utilities during the non-cultivation periods. This provides them with an additional source of income.
Launch of a Solar Model Village
The Deputy Chief Minister shared these details after a special event. He inaugurated a solar model village at Ravinuthala. This village is located in the Bonakal mandal of Khammam district.
Vikramarka described the vision behind this initiative. The goal is to turn every household and every agricultural pump set into its own power generation unit. He called this a truly revolutionary programme for the state.
How the Scheme Works
The government is fully funding the solar installations under this scheme. This allows households and farmers to meet their own electricity needs first. Any surplus power generated can then be sold to the state electricity department. This creates a two-way benefit for participants.
The project is currently running on a pilot basis. It is being implemented in 81 selected villages across Telangana. These include villages in the Kodangal and Bonakal mandals.
Massive Financial Investment
The state government is making a significant financial commitment to this solar push. A total of ₹1,380 crore is being spent on the programme across these 81 pilot villages.
The work involves installing solar panels on rooftops of homes and on agricultural pump sets. The spending is broken down for specific areas. In Bonakal mandal alone, the government is spending ₹306 crore across 22 villages. For the model village of Ravinuthala, an allocation of ₹24 crore has been made.
Direct Benefits for Families
Deputy CM Vikramarka provided concrete numbers on the benefits for families. He stated that through solar power generation, a family can save up to ₹14,000 per year on electricity costs.
He gave a detailed example of potential earnings. After using the required electricity for household needs, a family might have surplus power. If they sell at least 1,086 surplus solar power units annually to electricity companies, they can earn extra money. The current rate is ₹2.57 per unit. This translates to a minimum additional income of ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per year for the family.
Vikramarka highlighted the symbolic shift this represents. "Until now, we paid money to electricity companies," he said. "From now on, electricity companies will pay money to the people." This statement captures the core idea of the programme: transforming citizens from consumers into producers of power.
