11 districts yet to recommend candidates under PM-Surya Ghar scheme
Six villages in Nagaland have been recommended for the Model Solar Village competition under the Centre’s PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with the winning village in each district eligible for a Rs 1-crore grant for renewable-energy projects.
The villages are Zhadima in Kohima, Tamlu in Longleng, Surumi in Zunheboto, Sungratsu in Mokokchung, Aoyimti in Dimapur and Jakphang in Mon. Recommendations from the remaining 11 districts are awaited.
The recommendations followed surveys by the Power Department’s electrical divisions in coordination with the respective district administrations. The surveys assessed renewable-energy installations already in the villages, including rooftop and off-grid solar systems, solar pumps, solar street lights and other installations, according to department officials.
In Kohima, Zhadima had the highest recorded capacity among the villages surveyed, at 22.68 kW. This included 217 solar street lights with a combined capacity of 8.68 kW. Tuophema had 17.25 kW, while Khonoma had 14.065 kW.
In Mokokchung, Sungratsu had 3.66 kW of installed capacity, including one 3-kW rooftop/off-grid solar installation and 33 solar street lights with a combined capacity of 0.66 kW.
In Mon, Jakphang was recorded with 43.22 kW, including a 3-kW off-grid rooftop solar installation and a 40.22-kW off-grid ground-mounted solar panel installation.
Under the Model Solar Village guidelines, the village with the highest distributed renewable-energy capacity in each district will be declared the Model Solar Village and receive Rs 1 crore in central financial assistance.
The grant can be used for renewable-energy initiatives suited to the needs of the village and is not limited to rooftop solar, officials told MT.
The projects, however, have not yet been decided.
According to department officials, the Department of Power, Nagaland (DOPN) will first engage national-level consultants through e-tendering to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
The consultants will visit the recommended villages, interact with village councils and communities and identify suitable renewable-energy interventions. The DPRs will subsequently be submitted to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for approval.
Once the DPRs are approved, DOPN will tender the works and award the projects.
The Model Solar Village component has a total outlay of Rs 800 crore and seeks to establish one Model Solar Village in every district across the country. The initiative aims to encourage villages to adopt renewable energy and reduce their dependence on conventional sources of power.