Prayagraj: As part of state govt’s efforts to boost production and consumption of green energy, Prayagraj district will be developed as a solar city and has been given a target of installing 1 lakh solar panels by 2027.“So far, applications for 27,145 solar panels have been received while 12,154 panels already installed under this scheme. As of Feb 9, the district is generating 36,562 kW of solar energy,” said UPNEDA project manager Komil Dwivedi (additional charge). The move is crucial to make UP self-reliant in power generation. In the state 2026-27 budget, the govt prioritised green energy by proposing Rs 2,104 crore with a target of 22,000 MW of production by increasing investment in solar, bioenergy, and green hydrogen to ensure energy security and environmental balance. So far, 2,815 MW of solar power capacity is installed in the state with Sangam city achieving significant success in solar energy production under the state’s PM Surya Ghar Scheme. Dwivedi said under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, a 1-kilowatt rooftop system receives a subsidy of Rs 30,000 from the central govt and Rs 15,000 from the state govt (totalling RS 45,000). For 2-kilowatt systems, the central govt provides a subsidy of Rs 60,000 and the state govt provides Rs 30,000, for a total of Rs 90,000. For loads of 3 kilowatts and above, the central govt provides a subsidy of Rs 78,000 and the state govt provides Rs 30,000 (totalling Rs 1.08 lakh). Consumers availing the PM Surya Ghar Yojana are also enthusiastic about its benefits. Prayagraj saw the highest interest in the urban area this financial year. Usha Singh, a resident of Alka Vihar Colony in Prayagraj, said managing the household budget was becoming difficult due to the high cost of electricity and LPG. Consequently, she installed a 3 kW rooftop solar panel. While this saves her 10 units of electricity per day, cooking meals using induction stoves also saves her the cost of LPG cylinders. This scheme is not only providing affordable electricity to consumers but is also proving beneficial for both the environment and employment, boosting Uttar Pradesh’s economy.
