After PM Modi's appeal, Gujarat orders solar rooftops for all Agriculture Dept offices
Ahmedabad, May 28
The Gujarat government on Thursday directed all offices, institutions, universities and corporations functioning under the state Agriculture Department to install solar rooftop systems, with Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani ordering departments to begin the process immediately in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to promote green energy and reduce fuel consumption.
The decision was taken under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel after the Prime Minister urged citizens and government institutions to adopt measures aimed at saving fuel and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
Vaghani said the installation of solar rooftops in government offices and institutions would reduce dependence on electricity generated through conventional fuels and encourage the use of renewable energy such as solar power.
"All offices, boards, corporations and educational institutions under the Agriculture Department where solar rooftops are yet to be installed will begin the project on an immediate basis," he said.
The government has instructed all concerned offices to prepare and submit proposals to the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) within the next seven days so that the work can be completed on a war footing.
Officials said the initiative is expected to reduce electricity expenditure in government offices while strengthening Gujarat's position in the clean and green energy sector.
The move comes amid a broader national push for rooftop solar expansion. Prime Minister Modi has recently called for rooftop solar adoption to be taken up in "mission mode" in cities, residential complexes and public institutions to reduce electricity costs and improve energy security.
The Prime Minister had also made a seven-point public appeal earlier this month in the backdrop of global uncertainty and rising pressure on fuel imports.
The appeals included reducing petrol and diesel consumption, encouraging public transport and carpooling, promoting work from home wherever possible, using domestic products and avoiding unnecessary expenditure.
India has seen a sharp increase in rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Government data presented in Parliament showed that more than 25 lakh rooftop solar systems had been installed across the country by March 2026, with Gujarat among the leading states in implementation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative but why only agriculture department? All government departments should follow suit. Also, 25 lakh rooftop installations by March 2026 sounds impressive but we need to check if these are actually operational or just installed for show. Remember the earlier solar pump schemes? Many were not working due to lack of after-sales service. Let's hope this time proper monitoring is there.
👌 Great move! Agriculture consumes so much electricity for irrigation - this will bring down operational costs for the department. The seven-day deadline for proposals is good, shows urgency. I'm a farmer in Saurashtra and we've seen electricity bills go through the roof. If govt leads by example, maybe more farmers will adopt solar too. Thoda aur subsidy dena chahiye for small farmers.
Finally some concrete action! PM Modi ki appeal to bahut hoti hai but implementation thoda dheela rehta hai. I hope the Agriculture Minister actually follows up and doesn't just make announcements. Gujarat has good solar potential, so this should work well. My only concern is whether GEDA has the capacity to process all proposals in 7 days? They're already overloaded. Also, what about the cost? Will central government fund this or state budget?
Smart move by Gujarat government. India needs more such concrete actions rather than just speeches. The PM Surya Ghar scheme data shows impressive numbers but I'd like to see independent verification of actual electricity generated vs promised. When I visited my relatives in Vadodara last year, many housing societies had solar but some panels were covered in dust and not working properly. This initiative should include mandatory cleaning and maintenance contracts.
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