Khargapur to receive rooftop solar systems; DPR forwarded, subsidy planned
Khargapur village in the Shringverpur Dham development block of Soraon tehsil has been selected to be developed as a model solar village for Prayagraj district under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, district officials said. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been forwarded for approval and around ₹90 crore has been sanctioned for the broader project, they added.
Khargapur is a small settlement with roughly 1,100 people living in about 210 houses. Officials said the scheme envisages installation of rooftop solar panels at households with valid electricity connections, enabling families to meet a portion of their domestic electricity needs through renewable energy and reduce dependence on conventional supplies.
- Model village selection: Khargapur is the only village chosen from all development blocks of Prayagraj district.
- Financial support: A subsidy provision of up to ₹1.08 lakh per household will be available through the Non-Conventional Energy Development Agency (NEDA)/UPNEDA.
- Coverage: Houses with valid electricity connections will be eligible for rooftop solar systems under the scheme.
"Khargapur had been selected for development as a model solar village and the DPR had been sent for approval," said Komil Dwivedi, district Backward Class Welfare officer, who also holds additional charge of project officer, UPNEDA.
Scope, subsidies and local impact
Officials noted that nearly 90 per cent of homes in Khargapur already have electricity connections, a factor that could help rapid uptake of rooftop installations. The NEDA subsidy — up to ₹1.08 lakh per household — is intended to lower the financial barrier for beneficiaries and accelerate adoption of distributed solar generation in the village.
District-level authorities expect Khargapur to serve as an example for other rural habitations in the district and the state once household solar systems are in place. The model-village approach under the central scheme aims to demonstrate how decentralised renewable energy can reduce monthly power bills and improve energy self-reliance at the village level.
What the plan will mean for residents
If approved and implemented as proposed, the project would provide rooftop solar systems to eligible households, generating a share of domestic electricity consumption locally. Officials said the subsidy channelled through UPNEDA will substantially reduce the upfront cost for beneficiaries.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Village | Khargapur (Shringverpur Dham block) |
| Population / Houses | ~1,100 people / ~210 houses |
| Sanctioned amount | ₹90 crore (for project) |
| Household subsidy | Up to ₹1.08 lakh via UPNEDA |
| Eligibility | Houses with valid electricity connection |
Officials emphasised that timely provision of subsidies and rooftop installations is key for Khargapur to become a replicable model. The plan aligns with state and central efforts to expand renewable energy in rural areas through decentralised generation and subsidy support to households.
District Backward Class Welfare officer Komil Dwivedi, who also holds additional charge as project officer for UPNEDA in the district, confirmed the selection and said the DPR has been submitted for approval. He indicated that once administrative clearances and technical arrangements are completed, rollout to eligible households would begin.
Local residents and community leaders will be watching implementation closely: success in Khargapur could influence how other villages in Prayagraj approach solarisation, household energy costs and energy resilience, while also demonstrating practical outcomes from a centrally supported scheme in Uttar Pradesh's rural areas.
