Over 1,200 households achieve zero electricity bills; rooftop solar plants installed at more than 4,117 homes across the district
Published on: July 20, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said Rajnandgaon will be developed as the leading district in the implementation of the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. He made the announcement while addressing the Surya Sabha and felicitation ceremony for beneficiaries who have achieved zero electricity bills under the scheme at Speaker House in Rajnandgaon on Monday.
Dr. Raman Singh felicitated urban and rural beneficiaries who have received zero electricity bills under the scheme and presented them with certificates of appreciation. He also appealed to residents to install rooftop solar systems in large numbers and contribute to the promotion of clean and free energy.
The Assembly Speaker said the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is not merely a scheme aimed at reducing electricity bills but is also an important initiative for environmental protection and energy self-reliance. He said that while the Sun has traditionally been regarded in Indian culture as the source of energy and life, modern technology is now enabling households to harness solar energy to meet their electricity needs.
Dr. Singh said that subsidies of up to ₹45,000 are available for a 1-kilowatt solar plant, ₹90,000 for a 2-kilowatt plant and up to ₹1.08 lakh for a 3-kilowatt rooftop solar system. Easy financing facilities are also being made available through banks for the remaining amount.
8,300 applications received, over 4,117 households benefit
Dr. Raman Singh said a target of installing 13,500 solar plants has been set for Rajnandgaon district. So far, more than 8,300 applications have been received, while over 4,117 beneficiaries have already received the benefits of the scheme. Electricity bills of more than 1,200 consumers have become zero.
He said the achievement is a matter of pride for the district and expressed confidence that Rajnandgaon will become one of the leading districts in Chhattisgarh in the implementation of the scheme in the coming months.
Highlighting the environmental benefits of solar energy, Dr. Singh said increasing dependence on coal-based electricity contributes to carbon emissions and climate-related challenges. Solar energy, he said, offers a clean, safe and environment-friendly alternative that can help reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development.
₹10 lakh additional development works for wards and gram panchayats
The Assembly Speaker called upon elected representatives to promote the scheme as a campaign. He announced that any Municipal Corporation ward where solar plants are installed in 50 per cent of households will receive approval for additional development works worth ₹10 lakh.
Similarly, Gram Panchayats achieving solar plant installation in 50 per cent of households will also be eligible for additional development works worth ₹10 lakh. Dr. Singh said elected representatives who achieve this target will also be publicly felicitated.
He urged public representatives, panchayat representatives, journalists, social organisations and beneficiaries to become brand ambassadors of the scheme and encourage more people to adopt rooftop solar energy.
Solar adoption gaining momentum in urban and rural areas
Mayor Madhusudan Yadav said the Municipal Corporation, Electricity Department and district administration are working together to rapidly expand the scheme in urban and rural areas. He urged beneficiaries with zero electricity bills to share their experiences and inspire others to adopt solar energy.
He said the Municipal Corporation area has around 44,000 houses and efforts are being made to install the maximum possible number of solar plants during the current financial year. This will help reduce electricity expenses while also contributing to environmental protection and temperature control.
District Panchayat President Kiran Vaishnav described the scheme as highly beneficial for citizens and said beneficiaries with zero electricity bills would serve as an inspiration for society.
Padma Shri awardee Phoolbasan Yadav praised the public welfare initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the scheme should be transformed into a mass movement through public participation. She also announced her intention to install a solar plant at her residence.
Solar energy can provide long-term savings
Collector Jitendra Yadav said the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is an important step towards energy self-reliance. He said the district administration has been conducting a special campaign for the past eight months, organising camps in villages and urban areas to simplify the process for citizens.
The Collector said families adopting solar energy can remain free from electricity bill expenses for the next 24 to 25 years. With subsidies of up to ₹1.08 lakh available for solar plants of up to 3 kilowatts from the Central and State governments, citizens are receiving significant financial benefits.
He said solar energy is not only beneficial for household savings but also contributes to national energy security, environmental protection and reducing dependence on imported fuels. Several beneficiaries are also generating surplus electricity and supplying it to the grid, creating the possibility of additional income.
Citing the example of a woman beneficiary from Musra village, Collector Jitendra Yadav said her monthly electricity bill earlier ranged between ₹4,000 and ₹5,000. After installing a rooftop solar system, her electricity bill has become zero. Over the next 25 years, the family is expected to save approximately ₹15–16 lakh, which can be utilised for education, healthcare and other essential needs.
The Collector said Rajnandgaon is currently ranked fifth in Chhattisgarh in the implementation of the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, but the district has much greater potential. He appealed to elected representatives and citizens to connect more families with the scheme and said that with collective efforts, the district could achieve a target of 20,000 solar connections within the next year.
Several beneficiaries from urban and rural areas shared their experiences at the event and said that their electricity bills had become zero after installing rooftop solar plants. They also highlighted the possibility of earning additional income through surplus electricity generation in the future.
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The programme was attended by Chhattisgarh Labour Welfare Board Chairman Yogesh Dutt Mishra, District Cooperative Central Bank Chairman Sachin Baghel, Janpad Panchayat Rajnandgaon President Pratima Chandrakar, Rajgami Sampada Nyas President Purnima Sahu, District Panchayat Vice-President Kiran Sahu, District Panchayat Member Devkumari Sahu, Khubchand Parakh, Komal Singh Rajput, MLA Representative Roopchand Bhimnani, Santosh Agrawal, Ramesh Patel, Saurabh Kothari, Divisional Forest Officer Ayush Jain, CEO District Panchayat Durga Prasad Adhikari, Additional Collector C.L. Markandey, SDM Rajnandgaon Shrikant Koram, officials of the Electricity Department and a large number of beneficiaries.
