Dhordo in Gujarat Transitions to Complete Solar Power

Dhordo will be the fourth village in the State powered by solar energy, following Modhera in Mehsana, Sukhi in Kheda, and Masali in Banaskantha.

It is a distant village in Kutch, Gujarat, globally recognized as the ‘Best Tourism Village’ by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, all residential electricity connections in Dhordo have been equipped with solar power, allowing households to produce their own clean energy.

The system is expected to produce 2.95 lakh units of electricity each year, leading to considerable financial benefits for the community.

PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Scheme

Launched in 2024, it seeks to offer free electricity to homes by assisting with rooftop solar panel installations.

Installation Objectives:

By October 2025: Achieving 40 lakhs,

March 2027: 10 million households.

The program provides a grant of up to 40% for households, improving the affordability and accessibility of renewable energy.

Criteria for Eligibility:

An amount of ₹800 crore has been earmarked for this part, with ₹1 crore allocated to every chosen Model Solar Village.

For a village to be considered a candidate, it needs to be a revenue village with a population exceeding 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states).

This project seeks to encourage the use of solar energy and enable village communities to attain energy independence.

Achievement: PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) has reached a significant landmark with 10 lakh houses being solar-powered by March 2025.

Main Advantages of Program

Delivers complimentary electricity to homes via subsidized rooftop solar panel setups, greatly lowering energy expenses.

Anticipated to reduce the government's electricity costs by approximately ₹75,000 crore each year.

Aids in boosting renewable energy adoption and cutting carbon emissions by approximately 720 million tonnes.

Increases solar capacity by 30 GW through rooftop installations in homes.