This fictional story has been written as part of Yuva for Sustainability Internship Programme storytelling initiative. While the characters and events are fictional, the themes explored draw inspiration from real sustainability challenges and opportunities emerging across India.

It was a warm summer night

Som, tired after a long day of work, was sleeping peacefully under the cool air of his newly purchased cooler. As the temperature difference between his room and the scorching outdoors continued to rise, his comfort deepened and he drifted into a sound sleep.

But soon, the power suddenly went out.

Som has been living in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, more specifically in Mirzapur district, for the past fourteen years. It is somewhat ironic to witness prolonged blackouts in a region known for its coal reserves, which have powered homes and industries across the state for decades.

But this blackout was different.

Hours passed. Then an entire day.

Som waited anxiously for electricity to return. Power was not merely a source of comfort; it operated the submersible pump that supplied water to his home. Without electricity, his family was forced to endure not only the discomfort of extreme heat but also a growing shortage of water.

Every year, Uttar Pradesh witnesses a rise in peak power demand. This year, the state’s peak demand has crossed its previous high. Although power generation and supply have increased significantly through the expansion of renewables and the government’s efforts to improve the efficiency of thermal power plants, ensuring reliable electricity for a rapidly growing economy and its population of more than 22 crore remains a complex task.

But while Som waited for electricity to return, hundreds of kilometres away in Bundelkhand, his fellow resident Prakash was living a different story.

For decades, Bundelkhand was considered a laggard in Uttar Pradesh’s development journey. Today, however, the region occupies a central place in the state’s vision of becoming energy secure and self-reliant.

Prakash recently converted a portion of his barren land into a small solar installation. The electricity generated not only meets his own needs but also allows him to sell surplus power to state distribution companies, creating an additional source of income for his family.

Standing beside his solar installation, Prakash looks across the panels that now cover a part of his land. The worry that once accompanied failed harvests has been replaced by a quiet confidence.

In Prakash’s words:

“The same barren land that I once called usara has now become a source of opportunity. Earlier, I could cultivate only limited crops with uncertain returns. Today,” he says, pointing towards the solar modules with a faint smile, “the electricity generated from this land brings certainty.”

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

One of Bundelkhand’s greatest weaknesses was transformed into an opportunity by people like Prakash: land.

Uttar Pradesh is predominantly an agricultural state, where land is not merely an economic asset but also a source of livelihood and social security. As a result, acquiring large tracts of fertile land for solar projects is often challenging.

So why has Bundelkhand emerged as an outlier?

Its rocky and barren terrain supports relatively limited agricultural activity compared to the rest of the state. This was seen as an opportunity and, recognising this potential, the government has planned and developed large-scale solar parks across several districts of the region.

For example, the district of Jalaun is witnessing the deployment of the state’s largest solar park, with a capacity of 1,200 MW. Many others remain in the pipeline.

These projects seek to harness Bundelkhand’s abundant sunlight, aided by its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, to meet the state’s growing power demand.

Powering Growth Through Clean Energy

So what does this achieve?

The deployment of large-scale solar plants brings greater income certainty for local communities. Moreover, the availability of cheaper electricity attracts investment, especially from footloose industries, creating employment opportunities.

Through Green Energy Corridors, the region is emerging as a net exporter of electricity, fuelling economic growth, lighting homes and improving the quality of life of its people.

One state. The same challenge. But different approaches and different outcomes.

While Som waits for electricity to return after a disrupted transmission network, Prakash represents another side of Uttar Pradesh’s energy story, one where the very sun that once symbolised drought and hardship is now emerging as a source of income, opportunity and energy security.

Kushagra Mishra is PG Diploma in Environment Law and Policy from NLU, Delhi