Paperman Media ( Burla )- Kunjamahula village under Pitamahula Gram Panchayat in Sonepur district, one of the remote villages of Western Odisha, has now emerged as the first ‘Surya Ghar Village’ in the region. With rooftop solar panels installed in every eligible household, the village is setting an example of clean energy adoption and community participation.
Out of the 32 families residing in Kunjamahula village, 28 eligible families have installed rooftop solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and its Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) initiative implemented by TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL). Under the scheme, each eligible consumer received a 1-kilowatt rooftop solar system by contributing only ₹1,875, making solar energy affordable and accessible for rural households.
Commending the TPWODL efforts implementing the consumer welfare initiative, Shri Sadananda Gaigaria, a beneficiary from Kunjamahula village, said, "Earlier, we had only heard about solar power. Today, it is installed on our own rooftop. We are happy and with this solar system, we hope to save on our electricity bills and provide a better future for our family."
Speaking on the milestone, Mr. Parveen Verma, CEO, TPWODL, stated that, "Kunjamahula's journey to becoming Western Odisha's first 'Surya Ghar Village' demonstrates how clean energy can transform lives when communities actively participate in development initiatives. What makes this achievement special is that every eligible family in the village came forward to embrace solar energy. Through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and our Utility Led Aggregation initiative, we are making rooftop solar affordable and accessible even in the remotest parts of our operational area. We hope Kunjamahula will inspire many more villages to adopt clean energy and move towards a sustainable and self-reliant future."
The initiative gained momentum after TPWODL conducted awareness sessions in the village and explained the benefits of rooftop solar to the residents. Encouraged by the scheme and its long-term benefits, all eligible villagers agreed to install solar panels on their rooftops under the ULA initiative.
Notably, TPWODL completed the installation and commissioning of solar panels for all 28 households in a single day. With the new solar systems, each household can now generate nearly 100 units of electricity every month and save up to ₹5,000 annually on electricity expenses.
With solar panels installed on the rooftops of 88% households, Kunjamahula has earned recognition as the first ‘Surya Ghar Village’ not only in Sonepur district but also in Western Odisha. The initiative has brought a new sense of empowerment, financial savings and hope for a greener future among the villagers.
