Raipur, Aug 23: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday announced that Chhattisgarh has set a target to equip 5 lakh households with rooftop solar panels by March 2027, as part of the state’s drive to emerge as a national leader in renewable energy.

Speaking at the valedictory session of ‘Samvad’, a two-day solar industry conclave organized by the Chhattisgarh Solar Welfare Association at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur, Chief Minister Sai emphasized that solar power remains central to India’s clean energy transition. He noted that under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, nearly 95,000 homes in the state have already been connected to rooftop solar systems.

Highlighting financial incentives, Chief Minister Sai detailed that households installing a 1-kW system receive a central subsidy of ₹30,000 alongside a state subsidy of ₹15,000. For a 3-kW installation, the combined subsidy reaches approximately ₹1.08 lakh. He added that the state government is leveraging District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds to bridge the remaining financial gap for families in mining-affected districts, making clean energy adoption accessible to lower-income households.

Chhattisgarh has also committed to generating 4,000 MW of green energy to support India’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Chief Minister Sai stated that while Chhattisgarh currently produces around 30,000 MW of conventional electricity, the state has inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹3.5 lakh crore in the power sector to add another 30,000 MW of capacity in the coming years.

The expansion of solar infrastructure is simultaneously driving micro-entrepreneurship and women-led livelihoods across rural belts. Over 30 lakh women affiliated with 2.82 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) are participating in local commerce, with several emerging as certified solar vendors and installation technicians under the state’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Raipur MP Brijmohan Agrawal called for expanding solar-powered irrigation to lower agricultural inputs for farmers, noting that nearly 2.5 lakh farm pumps in the state are already operating on solar energy.

During the event, Chief Minister Sai inspected technology stalls set up by solar manufacturers, felicitated financial institutions for supporting solar loans, and released the official vendor directory compiled by the Chhattisgarh Solar Welfare Association.