PM inaugurates India's first 'carbon neutral panchayat' in Jammu

The nondescript hamlet of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Samba on Sunday became the country's first 'carbon-neutral panchayat' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500 kilowatt solar plant, installed in a record time of nearly three weeks.

The prime minister said that Palli has shown the way to the country by becoming carbon neutral.

"With the inauguration of a 500 kW solar power plant at Palli, it is moving towards becoming the country's first panchayat to become carbon-neutral ...The people of Palli have demonstrated what 'Sabka prayas' can do," Modi said in Palli.

"People of Palli have helped in the project. They have also provided food to people engaged in the project," he said.

All 1,500 solar panels put up in a total area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 houses in the model panchayat under the central government's 'Gram Urja Swaraj' programme, officials said.

"It is a red-letter day for us. With the blessings of Modi ji, the village has entered into the history of India as the first carbon-neutral solar village. We thank the prime minister for choosing this hamlet across the country," Palli villager Gurdeep Singh said.

From the macadamised roads to the recently launched electric bus service, the village located just 17 km from the winter capital Jammu is witnessing a major transformation with an upgraded Panchayat Ghar, renovated government high school building, a new pond and improved playfields and electric bus ride.

Palli's sarpanch Ravinder Sharma, who interacted with the prime minister, told him that village has Led bulbs, solar cookers and solar stoves.

Asked by the prime minister whether the village has solar pumps for irrigation of farmlands, Sharma said that 10 such pumps have been installed and 40 more will be installed in the next phase.

Prime Minister asked the villagers to celebrate the birthday of their hamlet after fixing a date for it.

"You should always celebrate the birthday of the village. All people who belong to this village and are living should be called back to participate in the celebrations," Modi said.

Sharma said that April 24 is the Palli village's formation day and they will celebrate its birthday.

The prime minister suggested to villagers to go for organic farming which will be beneficial for them.

The solar project was completed at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore in a record time, officials said.

The electricity generated will be distributed to the village, having a daily requirement of 2,000 units, through the local power grid station.