Kondareddypally, a quiet village, has become the second in the country to become a fully solar powered village.
First to achieve the distinction in the southern part of the country, the village, native of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has become the centre of attraction of the State Government’s green energy mission.
Located in Vangoor mandal of Nagarkurnool district, 514 houses and 11 government buildings in the village are covered under the green energy mission. A major chunk of 480 houses in the village are now adorned with 3 KW rooftop solar panels, while schools and government buildings are powered with 60 KW solar units.
The remaining mud-walled 34 houses would be covered taking the coverage to 100% once the Indiramma houses, taken up as their replacement, are ready.
Each house, according to officials, are generating 360 units of power a month ensuring uninterrupted power and eliminating the scope for electricity bills. The village started generatin income for itself in the form of energy supply to the grid at ₹5.25 a unit. The village reported close to ₹5 lakh income in September in the process.
The beginning of the journey was a green energy project initiated with an estimated ₹10.53 crore with ₹3.56 crore coming as subsidy from the Central Government and ₹4.09 crore coming as CSR (corporate social responsibility) funding. Another ₹2.59 crore was spent towards creation of infrastructure under the project executed by State’s renewable energy development corporation with community participation.
Blend of modern tech and rural life
Kondareddypally residents are overwhelmed by the fact that they not only have become self-sufficient but are also contributing clean energy to the State’s grid. Officials claim that the project blending modern technology with rural life was a milestone in the Government’s efforts to reduce carbon footprint, promote renewable energy and strengthen rural economy and a model for the country to emulate.
The village is a success story on how amalgamation of the Government’s vision, support of corporates and people’s participation can together usher in sustainable change in the lives of the people.
