Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday announced plan to integrate the PM-Surya Ghar Yojana with various state housing schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), to expand access to clean and affordable solar power among beneficiaries.
Chairing a meeting on power sector reforms, safety measures, and implementation of central and state schemes, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo also announced a Rs 3,708 crore underground cabling project across all four DISCOM areas to improve power safety and replace overhead lines.
The meeting was attended by Housing & Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, OPTCL CMD Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PR & DW, S.N. Girish, along with senior officials of the Energy Department and DISCOMs.
Highlighting the state’s focus on renewable energy and affordable electricity, Singh Deo said PM-Surya Ghar Yojana would be offered as an option to beneficiaries under Odisha’s housing programmes.
The aim is to ensure that every beneficiary under PMAY and other housing schemes gets the benefit of solar power. By linking PM-Surya Ghar with state housing programmes, the government will provide 24×7 clean and affordable electricity to people while reducing their electricity bills, he said.
Under the rooftop solar initiative, beneficiaries in urban areas will receive a subsidy of Rs 30,000 from the Centre and Rs 25,000 from the Odisha Government for installation of a 1 KW solar system. The beneficiary contribution for the installation will be Rs 1,875.
The Deputy CM directed DISCOMs to prioritise safety measures across urban and rural areas and ensure timely implementation of infrastructure projects.
As part of the power safety roadmap, underground cabling worth Rs 3,708 crore will be taken up across all four DISCOMs to replace existing overhead lines. The government will also prepare a comprehensive Safety Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Odisha DISCOMs.
The meeting also approved several safety interventions, including shifting of low-hanging wires, replacement of bare conductors with insulated conductors, installation of fencing at distribution substations, construction of PSS boundary walls, and installation of cradle and guard wires for low-tension (LT) protection.
Officials were also asked to develop a utility shifting portal/app and LTDB system to strengthen LT safety measures and improve coordination during infrastructure works.
