Solar Power Lights Up Tribal Hamlet in Andhra Pradesh

02 Jan 2026 CW Team

For the first time since Independence, homes in the remote tribal hamlet of Modela in Velerupadu mandal of Eluru district have been electrified, marking a historic milestone for its residents.

The forest village, home to 23 families belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, had lived without electricity for generations, relying on oil lamps and firewood for lighting. This changed with the installation of a 5 kVA solar microgrid system under the PM JANMAN programme, which has now provided power to every household in the hamlet.

The project was implemented under the supervision of Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited, in coordination with the district administration. Officials said the initiative has significantly improved daily life in Modela, enabling children to study after sunset while also enhancing safety and overall convenience for residents.

Villagers recalled that the entire hamlet stayed awake on the first night electricity was switched on, with children excitedly moving from house to house to see electric bulbs glowing for the first time.

Commission Member Jatothu Hussain later visited the village and drew attention to the absence of basic infrastructure, following which District Collector K Vetri Selvi directed officials to take immediate steps to address long-pending civic issues.

As a mark of gratitude, villagers subsequently visited the Eluru Collectorate to felicitate Joint Collector Dr M J Abhishek Gowda and Superintending Engineer (Electricity) Salman Raju for their role in bringing power to the hamlet.

Villager K Mukka Reddy said the arrival of solar electricity was an unforgettable moment for the tribal families, ending decades of isolation and darkness in the village.

Real Estate

11 May 2026

Danube Launches Greenz Villa Community in Dubai

Danube Properties has launched Greenz by Danube, a fully furnished master villa community in Dubai, unveiled by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, at an event attended by over 7,000 investors and business leaders.Located near Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Silicon Oasis, the development marks Danube’s first large-scale integrated villa community and is positioned within one of Dubai’s emerging residential corridors.The project will comprise three and four-bedroom townhouses along with five-bedroom semi-detached and twin villas...

ABB Launches IE6 Motor for Hazardous Industrial Areas

ABB has introduced what it claims is the world’s first IE6 Hyper-Efficiency motor certified for hazardous industrial environments under ATEX and IECEx standards.The new Increased Safety motor is based on ABB’s synchronous reluctance (SynRM) technology and is designed without magnets or rare earth materials. According to the company, the motor reduces energy losses by up to 60 per cent compared to standard IE3 induction motors commonly used in hazardous areas.The motor is intended for use in industries such as chemicals, marine, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and food and beverage, where expl..

Casagrand Launches 41-Acre Highcity Project in Chennai

Casagrand has launched Casagrand Highcity, a 41-acre integrated residential development on Chennai’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), marking the company’s largest residential project to date.The project will comprise over 4,000 two and three BHK apartments across four G+22 towers and is positioned as one of the largest organised residential developments in the ORR corridor.Located along Chennai’s emerging residential and infrastructure growth belt, the project benefits from connectivity to IT hubs including Navalur, Siruseri SIPCOT and Porur, as well as industrial clusters such as Sriperumbudur, ..