Solar-powered Modhera village demonstrates India’s renewable energy prowess
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has laid the foundation stones and dedicated various projects worth over Rs.3,900 crore to the nation in Modhera village of Mehsana district in northern Gujarat.
“Today marks the origination of new energy in the field of development for Modhera in Mehsana and the entire North Gujarat,” said the Prime Minister.
He officiated at the multiple projects ranging from electricity and water to railways and roadways, from dairy to skill development and health.
“Modhera will always figure in any discussion about solar power anywhere in the world,” he said on 9 Oct 2022.
Modhera was known for Surya Mandir but now Surya Mandir has inspired Saur Gram and that has made a place on the environment and energy map of the world.
The Prime Minister credited the successes in the area of solar energy and electricity coverage to the confidence of the people of Gujarat in the governments at the centre and the state.
Modi pointed out that solar energy will power house lights, agricultural needs as well as vehicles in Modhera.
He also declared Modhera as India’s first 24×7 solar-powered village. It involved developing a Ground Mounted Solar power plant and more than 1,300 Rooftop solar systems on residential and Government buildings, all integrated with Battery Energy storage system (BESS).
The solar-powered Modhera village demonstrates how India’s renewable energy prowess can empower people at the grassroots.
The Prime Minister said that he is working in the direction where the producer and the consumer of electricity are the people themselves.
“Use the power you need and sell the excess power to the government,” he added. This will also get rid of electricity bills and will also generate extra income.”
He recapped that the norm used to be that the government used to produce electricity for the people to buy. But today the Central Government is working towards policies that allow people to produce electricity by setting up solar panels in their homes and farmers in their fields while also installing solar pumps for irrigation.
The Prime Minister further added that the inauguration of water-related schemes today will benefit the health of the families, mothers and sisters.
He noted that the British rulers had made a road map of the development of Mahesana-Ambaji-Taranga-Aburod railway line in 1930. “We took out everything, made all the plans, and you can imagine the financial prosperity that it is going to bring,” he added for the developed project.
The projects dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister include:
Gauge Conversion of Sabarmati-Jagudan segment of Ahmedabad-Mehsana Gauge Conversion project;
ONGC’s Nandasan Geological oil production project;
Sujalam Sufalam Canal from Kherava to Shingoda Lake;
Dharoi Dam Based Vadnagar Kheralu and Dharoi Group Reform Scheme;
Four laning of a section of Bechraji Modhera-Chanasma state highway;
Expansion of a section of Unja-Dasaj Upera Ladol (Bhankhar Approach Road);
New Building of Regional Training Centre, Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA), Mehsana;
and Projection Mapping at Sun Temple at Modhera, among others.
He laid the foundation stones of multiple projects:
Four laning of a section of NH-68 from Patan to Gozariya;
A water treatment plant at Chalasan village of Jotana taluka of Mehsana district;
A new automated milk powder plant and UHT milk carton plant at Dudhsagar Dairy;
Redevelopment & Reconstruction of General Hospital Mehsana;
And Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for Mehsana and other districts of North Gujarat, among others. fiinews.com
