Shimla, April 27 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday inaugurated a 500-KW solar power project in the Dharech gram panchayat in the Kasumpti Assembly constituency in Shimla district.
He said that this was one of the significant steps of the government towards sustainable development.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that with this achievement, Dharech has become Himachal Pradesh’s first ‘green panchayat’.
Constructed at an approximate cost of Rs 1.94 crore, the project commenced in January 2025 and was successfully connected to the electricity grid on March 30, 2026.
The Chief Minister said that the solar power plant was generating around 3,000 units of clean energy per day, with an estimated annual production of nearly eight lakh units.
As per the agreement, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd will purchase this electricity at a rate of Rs 3.50 per unit. This is expected to generate a steady annual income of about Rs 28 lakh for the gram panchayat, supporting its financial sustainability.
Chief Minister Sukhu said that this initiative was an inclusive and welfare-oriented model that would strengthen rural self-reliance. The revenue generated from the project would be distributed in a balanced manner, with 30 per cent allocated for development works of the gram panchayat, 20 per cent for the welfare of orphans and widows, 20 per cent to the state government, 10 per cent to Himurja and the remaining 20 per cent for operation and maintenance of Himurja.
He said that this project, with an estimated lifespan of 25 years, is an important initiative towards promoting sustainable development, clean energy and rural empowerment in the state. It will directly benefit local people and help improve their economic condition, an official statement issued by the state government said.
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