Light at Last: Off-Grid Solar Project Illuminates Isolated Hamlets in the Nallamala Region

Remote tribal hamlets deep inside the Nallamala forest region of Prakasam district have finally received access to electricity through an off-grid solar electrification project , bringing long-awaited relief to communities that had lived in darkness for generations. The initiative, launched in the Palutla area of Yerragondapalem constituency , was inaugurated by State Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar , with an overall project outlay of nearly ₹3 crore . More than 600 tribal families , residing nearly 60 kilometres away from the nearest major habitation, are benefiting from the intervention, which was taken up after the issue of prolonged power deprivation in these forest settlements was brought to the government’s attention.

Implemented under the PM JANMAN scheme , the programme provided 611 households with solar home lighting systems equipped with battery storage , ensuring a reliable source of renewable power in areas where conventional grid expansion was not feasible. Each family received a unit containing five LED lights , one fan , and a mobile charging socket , improving household safety, comfort, and connectivity. Officials said access to lighting after dark is expected to enhance children’s study hours, reduce dependence on kerosene lamps, and improve overall living conditions, marking a significant step in bridging development gaps in isolated tribal regions.

An off-grid solar project refers to a system that generates electricity independently without being connected to the central power grid. Instead of long transmission lines, standalone units are installed at homes or small clusters of houses. These systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, a charge controller to regulate power flow, battery storage to store energy for night use, and an inverter to make the power usable for household appliances. During the day, panels charge the batteries, and at night families use the stored electricity. Such systems are especially suitable for forest and hilly areas like Nallamala Forest , where extending conventional electricity lines is expensive and restricted by terrain and environmental regulations.

To reach six particularly remote hamlets located within reserve forest limits, the minister and his team travelled for nearly three hours through difficult terrain before distributing the systems directly to beneficiaries. Acknowledging the lack of proper road connectivity, he said the matter would be taken up with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan , while keeping forest regulations in mind. He emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring even the most inaccessible tribal habitations receive the benefits of development and described solar energy as a transformative tool for improving livelihoods in forest regions.

During the interaction, tribal residents raised concerns about the high cost of irrigation using diesel pumps and requested solar agricultural pumps and street lighting facilities. Experts note that alongside installation, sustained maintenance support , user training, and battery replacement planning will be crucial to ensure the durability of the systems and to convert this electrification drive into lasting social and economic development for the tribal communities of the Nallamala region.