Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Tengnoupal district officials launched a new community-led solar power initiative on September 28. Called SURYA-SETU, the program aims to bring electricity to remote hill and border villages along the Myanmar frontier. It links the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to areas that previously struggled with weak rooftops, lack of vendors, and complex financing.
The project ditches individual household systems for a group model. It forces households into village-level energy institutions. This shift allows for bulk vendor deployment and better local financial management. Trained village technicians will handle the long-term maintenance. The National Informatics Centre, Manipur, is building a digital platform to track enrolment, subsidy payouts, and electricity generation.
The first phase hits five locations. Khangshim, Machi, Minou, Maipou, and Khunbi are the initial test sites. Officials intend to add more villages once local cooperatives meet readiness requirements. The district administration also wants to integrate battery storage, street lighting, and solar-powered water pumps into the grid. Tengnoupal Deputy Commissioner Saurabh Yadav said, "SURYA-SETU is intended to bridge the gap between the availability of government solar schemes and their actual access at the last mile."
This is a strategic move. Authorities hope to replicate the model across other hill and border districts to boost energy security. It keeps isolated families from being left behind by logistical hurdles.
Comments