Manyachiwadi Becomes Maharashtra's First Solar-Powered Village

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has inaugurated the Solar Village Scheme, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at achieving 100 percent solar-powered electricity for 100 villages across the state. The launch event took place in Satara, where the first village to benefit from the scheme, Manyachiwadi, in Satara district, was officially recognized as fully solar-powered.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) announced that two villages in each district will be entirely electrified through solar power. In addition to Manyachiwadi, the scheme will see Shivtirth Nagar in Kothrud and Sector 25 in Nigdi among the first to be fully powered by solar energy. 

During his speech, Chief Minister Shinde highlighted the government’s objective of eliminating electricity bills for households as part of the Pradhanmantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana. "The aim is to also provide farmers with free power," Shinde added, emphasising the dual focus on residential and agricultural benefits through the use of solar energy.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other key officials were commended for their role in advancing the state’s renewable energy goals. "Consumers in Manyachiwadi village can now use solar power," said Ravindra Mane, the village sarpanch, underscoring the community's pride in being the first to fully adopt solar electricity.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, MSEDCL Chairman and Managing Director Lokesh Chandra, and MSEDCL Director (Projects) Prasad Reshma. Chief Minister Shinde reiterated that under the Pradhanmantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana, residential consumers will receive up to 300 units of free power.

The Solar Village Scheme marks a significant step in Maharashtra’s efforts to transition towards sustainable energy, with Manyachiwadi setting a precedent as the state’s first fully solar-powered village.

Following this, more than 70 other villages across Maharashtra are expected to be included in the project. The primary focus of the plan is to encourage rooftop solar power generation.

Maharashtra ranks fifth in India, following Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, in terms of installed renewable energy capacity, according to the recent state economic survey report. The state's total installed renewable energy capacity had increased from 11,476 MW to 12,271 MW, with the share of renewable energy in Maharashtra's total installed capacity rising from 23.8 percent to 32.1 percent over the past five years.