Nagpur tops state in rooftop solar push

Nagpur: In a major boost to the clean energy movement, Maharashtra secured the second position nationally in the implementation of the Central govt's flagship PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Leading the state's performance, Nagpur district emerged as the top performer in rooftop solar installations. The achievement was celebrated at the ‘Khasdar Industrial Festival' held in Nagpur, organised by the All India Renewable Energy Association (AIREA) in collaboration with the Association for Industrial Development (AID), an initiative inspired by Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Senior officials, industry representatives, and stakeholders gathered to mark the milestone and discuss the rapid expansion of solar energy adoption.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the ceremony and lauded the efforts of power utilities and administrative teams in ensuring effective implementation of the scheme across the state. Officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), REC Limited, MSEDCL, and Jan Samarth were also present. In recognition of their role in driving the scheme's success, several MSEDCL officers were honoured with the ‘AIREA Renewable Energy Jewels' award. Among those felicitated were Sachin Talewar (director, pperations/projects), Prasad Reshme (executive director, project), Dilip Dodke (chief engineer, Nagpur zone), Pankaj Tagadpalliwar (chief engineer, special projects), and Rahul Sontakke (executive engineer). The awards were presented by industrialist Girdhari Mantri and MSEB Holding Company's independent director Vishwas Pathak. The scheme accelerated rooftop solar installations across the country, enabling households to generate clean electricity while reducing dependence on conventional power sources. According to MNRE officials, more than 6,500 rooftop solar projects are installed daily nationwide, indicating the growing momentum of the initiative. Within Vidarbha, districts like Amravati and Buldhana also secured places among the top 10 performers in Maharashtra, strengthening the region's contribution to the state's solar mission.