Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday flagged off the ‘Surya Rath’ to raise awareness about solar energy and promote the ambitious PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. The initiative is part of the state government’s sustained efforts to encourage citizens to adopt clean energy and contribute to India’s net-zero goals.
Mr. Sai stated that in Chhattisgarh, solar power users are emerging as both producers and contributors to the energy sector, reinforcing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clean energy commitment.
Direct Subsidy Transfer to Consumers
In a major step to support households, the Chief Minister transferred Rs. 1.85 crore of the state subsidy directly into the bank accounts of 618 consumers, each receiving Rs. 30,000 under the scheme. He noted that such incentives, coupled with awareness programs, are encouraging more citizens to embrace solar power.
Tackling Climate Change with Renewable Energy
Highlighting the seriousness of climate change and rising pollution, Mr. Sai said that Chhattisgarh is working with full commitment to achieve the national target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. He appealed to citizens to spread awareness about clean energy and motivate others to join the solar energy revolution.
Central and State Schemes Driving Energy Transformation
The Chief Minister mentioned that people in Chhattisgarh are increasingly benefiting from Central and State subsidies as well as easy financial support from banks. He also highlighted the PM KUSUM Yojana, which empowers consumers to generate solar power, sell electricity, and access affordable energy at the same time.
Expanding Energy Generation Capacity
When Chhattisgarh was formed in 2000, the state’s power generation capacity was 1,400 MW. Today, the state produces 30,000 MW and even supplies electricity to neighbouring states. Mr. Sai shared that under the new Industrial Policy, Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs. 3.50 lakh crore have been signed in the energy sector, which will further increase the state’s generation capacity.
Vision for Chhattisgarh as a Power Leader
Expressing confidence in the state’s progress, the Chief Minister said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh will emerge as the leading state in power generation across the country.
