Karimnagar, March 28 (RAHNUMA): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has called upon all public representatives – from ward members to corporators – to become role models by installing solar panels on their homes and promoting renewable energy adoption.
Responding to the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sanjay installed a solar power system at his residence in Karimnagar and inspected its functioning along with officials from TGREDCO. Pamphlets on the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana were also released on the occasion.
Highlighting the Centre’s push for solar energy, he said the scheme aims to cover one crore households nationwide, with a budget outlay of ₹75,000 crore. The initiative seeks to provide up to 300 units of free electricity per month to beneficiaries.
Sanjay urged elected representatives to take the lead in spreading awareness, expressing concern that the scheme’s targets are yet to be fully achieved in Telangana. He noted that funds have been allocated to support 5,000–7,000 households per Assembly constituency in adopting rooftop solar systems.
Emphasizing financial benefits, he said subsidies ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs.78,000 are available, and shared that his own monthly electricity bill – currently between Rs.25,000 and Rs.30,000 – could drop to below Rs.5,000 after installing solar panels.
The Minister reiterated the vision of transforming citizens from power consumers into producers, encouraging both urban households and farmers to adopt solar energy. He added that loans covering up to 80% of installation costs are available with easy repayment options.
Referring to the PM-KUSUM scheme, he said it aims to boost farmers’ incomes through solar power generation. TGREDCO has set a target of establishing 1,800 MW of solar capacity across Telangana. However, response remains limited, with only 63 applications approved so far from Karimnagar and Rajanna Sircilla districts. If the farmers generate surplus electricity – beyond the requirements of their fields – they can sell it to the DISCOMs and earn additional income, he noted.
Sanjay urged farmers and the public to come forward in large numbers and take advantage of the schemes to reduce energy costs and generate additional income
