Pune: Army Welfare Society in Salunke Vihar Installs 365 kW Solar Project Under PM Suryaghar Yojana
Pune, 30th September 2025: The Army Welfare Cooperative Housing Society in Salunke Vihar has taken a major step towards self-sufficiency in electricity by installing a 365 kW rooftop solar project under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Yojana. The project was inaugurated on Tuesday by Sunil Kakade, Chief Engineer of MSEDCL Pune Circle, as part of the ongoing Seva Parva initiative (September 17–October 2).
The inauguration was attended by MSEDCL Superintendent Engineer Gyandev Padalkar, Executive Engineer Chandrakant Dighe, Housing Society Chairman Brigadier S.T. Natarajan, Secretary Colonel B.D. Shinde, Manager Lt. Colonel B.C. Joglekar, Technical Member Colonel R. Manoharan, Additional Executive Engineer Nilesh Rohankar, along with Rajendra Bhujbal, Kishor Shinde, Sixth Engineer Ramakant Garje, and other electricity department staff.
Spread over 33 acres, the society houses retired army officers and has 867 electricity connections, including 746 household and 121 other connections. Under the scheme, 107 residents have installed individual rooftop projects totaling 310 kW, while the society has added 45 kW for water supply and 10 kW for street lights—bringing the combined capacity to 365 kW. More residents are expected to adopt solar power in the near future.
Chief Engineer Kakade lauded the initiative, calling it an “inspiring example of green energy adoption” and urged the society to aim for complete energy self-reliance by equipping remaining buildings with rooftop solar panels. He assured full support from MSEDCL.
During the event, society representatives, including President Natarajan and Technical Member Manoharan, demanded installation of three-phase and Time-of-Day (TOD) meters, which offer a rebate of 80 paise per unit during daytime usage. Kakade instructed officials to replace the meters, undertake necessary repairs, and enhance the electricity load without delay.
Sarita Vaibhav Society Commissions 109 kW Solar Project
Meanwhile, 43 members of Sarita Vaibhav Housing Society under the Sinhagad Road–Dattawadi branch of MSEDCL’s Parvati Division have jointly installed a 109 kW rooftop solar project under the Suryaghar Yojana. The project was inaugurated on Tuesday by Superintendent Engineer Gyandev Padalkar.
The ceremony was attended by MSEDCL Executive Engineer Nilesh Phalke, Additional Executive Engineer Umesh Kavade, Mangesh Kendra, Society Chairman Manoj Joshi, Secretary Amey Joshi, and residents including Shrikrishna Bapat, Amit Kalsur, and Upendra Kale. With this project, the society has now achieved self-sufficiency in electricity.
