Bhubaneswar, July 8: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Wednesday announced that the PM Surya Ghar Yojana will be integrated with the state's housing schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), to expand access to rooftop solar power and reduce electricity costs for beneficiaries.

The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting on power sector reforms, power infrastructure, safety measures, and the implementation of central and state energy schemes.

Singh Deo said beneficiaries under PMAY and other government housing schemes will have the option to install rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. The initiative aims to provide uninterrupted, clean and affordable electricity while significantly reducing household power bills.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries in urban areas installing a 1 kW rooftop solar system will receive a subsidy of Rs. 30,000 from the Central Government and Rs. 25,000 from the Odisha Government, leaving the beneficiary to contribute only Rs. 1,875.

Reviewing power safety across the state, the Deputy Chief Minister directed DISCOMs to give top priority to public safety by strengthening electricity infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.

Key decisions taken during the meeting include undertaking an underground cabling project worth Rs. 3,708 crore across all four DISCOMs to replace overhead power lines, preparing a comprehensive safety DPR for Odisha's power distribution network, replacing bare conductors with insulated ones, shifting low-hanging electric wires, installing protective fencing and boundary walls around distribution substations, providing cradle and guard wires for low-tension (LT) line protection, and developing a utility shifting portal along with an LT database for improved safety management.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the PM-SGMBY and ULA Model for urban and rural electrification, covering the installation of electric poles, wiring and street lighting infrastructure.

The meeting was attended by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, OPTCL CMD Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water S.N. Girish, along with senior officials from the Energy Department and power distribution companies (DISCOMs).

Emphasising the government's commitment to strengthening the power sector, Singh Deo said Odisha is focused on delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electricity to every household. He directed all concerned departments to work in close coordination and ensure the timely completion of safety and infrastructure projects across the state.