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In a step forward towards becoming a green state, Himachal Pradesh is now taking measures to make its villages energy self-sufficient. Raja Khas, a village located in the Indora block of Kangra district, is set to become Himachal’s first solar model village.
With a population of over 2,000, the decision to transform it into a solar-powered ideal village was taken on May 27 during the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting.
Under this initiative, all public places in the village — including the community hall (chaupal), panchayat office, schools, health centres, anganwadi centres, and other government buildings — will be powered by solar energy. For this, the government will provide a special grant of Rs 1 crore.
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa stated, “Raja Khas was selected out of 43 villages based on having the highest solar installation during a six-month competition. It will be the state's first solar model village.”
Ramesh Thakur, Senior Project Officer at Himurja — Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency and Member Secretary of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’s district coordination committee, told Down To Earth (DTE), “To extend the benefits of the scheme to people, we had selected 43 villages.”
During the six-month competition held from November 20 to May 19, Raja Khas achieved the highest solar installation capacity of 3,700 kilowatts. Following this, the DLCC meeting decided to designate Raja Khas as the model village.
“Now, the village will receive a central government grant of Rs 1 crore, which will be used to provide facilities such as solar street lights, solar water heaters, and a solar power plant,” he added.
Jyoti Devi, the sarpanch (village head) of Raja Khas Panchayat, said, “It is a matter of pride for us that our village is becoming the state’s first solar model village. We will all work together to make this a success and encourage people to use solar energy and properly maintain the facilities provided under the scheme.”
This initiative will not only give a new identity to Raja Khas but also serve as an inspiration for other villages in Himachal Pradesh. The scheme goes beyond providing clean and affordable energy — it is a significant step towards making villages self-reliant, promoting environmental protection, and empowering local communities.
Himachal’s effort is likely to become a model for other states in the country.
HIMURJA CEO Shubhkaran Singh said that they are currently awaiting reports from other districts. Once all district-level lists are received, further action will be implemented promptly.
Ramesh Thakur, senior project officer, added that following the selection of Raja Khas as Himachal Pradesh’s first solar model village, the next step will be to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) at the level of the competent authority.