THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BURLA, JUNE 4, 2026

In a significant milestone for rural clean energy adoption, Kunjamahula village under Pitamahula Gram Panchayat in Odisha’s Sonepur district has emerged as the first ‘Surya Ghar Village’ in Western Odisha. With rooftop solar systems installed in every eligible household, the village has become a model of sustainable development, community participation, and energy self-reliance.

Of the 32 families residing in the village, 28 eligible households have adopted rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana through the Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) initiative implemented by TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL). Under the scheme, each beneficiary received a 1-kilowatt rooftop solar installation by contributing just ₹1,875, making renewable energy both affordable and accessible for rural consumers.

The achievement reflects the growing success of government-led efforts to promote decentralized solar power generation across rural India. Through extensive awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes, TPWODL encouraged villagers to embrace solar energy and explained its long-term economic and environmental benefits.

Expressing his happiness, beneficiary Sadananda Gaigaria said, "Earlier, we had only heard about solar power. Today, it is installed on our own rooftop. We are happy and with this solar system, we hope to save on our electricity bills and provide a better future for our family."

Highlighting the significance of the accomplishment, Parveen Verma, CEO of TPWODL, said, "Kunjamahula's journey to becoming Western Odisha's first 'Surya Ghar Village' demonstrates how clean energy can transform lives when communities actively participate in development initiatives. What makes this achievement special is that every eligible family in the village came forward to embrace solar energy. Through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and our Utility Led Aggregation initiative, we are making rooftop solar affordable and accessible even in the remotest parts of our operational area. We hope Kunjamahula will inspire many more villages to adopt clean energy and move towards a sustainable and self-reliant future."

In a remarkable feat, TPWODL completed the installation and commissioning of rooftop solar systems for all 28 households in a single day. The newly installed systems are expected to generate nearly 100 units of electricity per month for each household, enabling annual savings of up to ₹5,000 on electricity bills.

With solar panels now installed on the rooftops of 88 per cent of households, Kunjamahula has earned recognition as the first ‘Surya Ghar Village’ not only in Sonepur district but across Western Odisha. Beyond reducing energy costs, the initiative has instilled a sense of empowerment among residents and strengthened the village’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.

The success of Kunjamahula is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar solar-powered village transformations across the region, accelerating Odisha’s transition towards clean and renewable energy.