Govt announces INR 515-crore solar power scheme for electrification of tribal areas

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The President of India has approved the implementation of a new solar power scheme for particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) habitations/villages from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The Scheme will be implemented under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).

Under the Scheme, off-grid solar systems will be provided for the electrification of 100,000 un-electrified households in PVTG areas where electricity supply through the grid is not techno-economically feasible. These areas will be identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in 18 States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, and union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In addition, the scheme includes a provision for providing solar lighting in 1500 multi-purpose centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas where electricity through the grid is not available.

The financial outlay approved under the Scheme is given below:

The funds for the implementation of this Scheme would be met from the DAPST allocation of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) with an overall approved financial outlay of INR 515 crore ($62 million). Year-wise fund allocation is INR 20 crore in 2023-24, INR 255 crore in 2024-25, and INR 240 crore in 2025-26.

The scheme will be implemented by the respective electric utility/Discom in the PVTG area.

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