Masali village in Gujarat&rsquo;s Banaskantha district has been bestowed the distinction of becoming India&rsquo;s first fully solar-powered village in a border region. Located 40 km from the Pakistan border, Masali has equipped all its 119 households with solar rooftops, generating 225.5 kilowatts of electricity&mdash;more than the village&rsquo;s total energy requirements.
The ₹1.16 crore project, implemented under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, was funded through a subsidy of ₹59.81 lakh, ₹35.67 lakh in CSR contributions, and ₹20.52 lakh from public support. This initiative is part of the central and state governments&rsquo; push toward renewable energy to achieve energy self-reliance and environmental sustainability.
District Collector Mihir Patel, who spearheaded the initiative, noted, &ldquo;Masali of Suigam taluka is now a model for the 17 other villages along the district&rsquo;s international border, where solar projects are already in progress. With efforts of the district administration, the village has become fully solar-powered. It is a matter of pride for us that Masali has bagged the title of second fully solar-powered village in Gujarat, after Modhera.&rdquo; 
A committee has been formed under Patel&rsquo;s chairmanship to ensure that villages on the state government&rsquo;s border have 24-hour electricity. Under the Border Development Project, the local administration has taken the initiative to make 11 villages in Sarhad Vav taluka and 06 more villages in Suigam taluka, completely solar-powered. 
Masali residents, led by Sarpanch Magniram Rawal, celebrated the transition, expressing relief at the elimination of electricity bills and thanking the government for resolving long-standing power issues.
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Solar panels atop homes in Masali village

Project completed under PM Surya Ghar Yojana with investment of ₹1.16 crore

Masali Becomes India’s First Border Solar Village

Project completed under PM Surya Ghar Yojana with investment of ₹1.16 crore

December 19, 2024 | 20:31 IST