Banaskantha: In efforts to make the country self-reliant in the energy sector using renewable energy, Masali village in Suigam taluka has emerged as the country’s first border solar village. Masali, with a total population of 800, is located 40 kilometers from the Pakistan border. Through the efforts of the district administration, the village has become entirely solar-powered.

Solar rooftops have been installed on all 119 houses in the village. The complete project, valued at ₹1.16 crore, was set up through collaboration between the revenue department, UGVCL, a bank, and a solar company. The project was implemented with a subsidy of ₹59.81 lakh, public contributions of ₹20.52 lakh, and ₹35.67 lakh from CSR funds under the PM Suryaghar scheme. Today, the 119 houses collectively generate 225.5 kilowatts of electricity, which is more than enough to meet the requirements of each household.

A committee, chaired by District Collector Mihir Patel, has been formed to ensure 24-hour electricity supply to villages located on the border. Under the border development project, 11 villages in Sardhi Vav taluka and six in Suigam taluka have been included in the initiative to make a total of 17 villages solar-powered. The work in Masali village has been successfully completed as part of this initiative.

District Collector Mihir Patel stated, “It is a matter of pride and joy for Banaskantha district that Masali in Suigam has been recognized as the second solar village in the state after Modhera and the first solar village in the country’s border region. While the Central Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have taken the initiative to build 1 crore solar-powered houses across the country, this project has been implemented in 17 villages near the international border in the district, and work is ongoing.”

Sarpanch Magniram Rawal of the Madhapura Masali Group Gram Panchayat and other village leaders expressed that the long-standing issue of electricity in the village has been permanently resolved with solar energy. They said the villagers are now free from paying electricity bills and extended their gratitude to the government and the district administration. DeshGujarat