Union Minister of New and Renewable energy Dr Farooq Abdullah today assured the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal that their Ministry would sympathetically consider the proposal of the state government to enhance the existing subsidy on the solar irrigation pump sets from 30% to 70% for optimum utilization of the Solar energy in various Agricultural operations.The Chief Minister, who called on Dr Abdullah here at his office, apprised him that the state government was committed to promote Renewable and Clean energy in a big way for benefitting the farmers for which fulsome support and co-operation of the Government of India (GoI) was required. During the deliberations Mr Badal said that the judicious use of Solar energy in Agriculture, Horticulture and floriculture could do miracles in the state as it was not only cost effective but environmental friendly also. He impressed upon the Union Minister that for it the need of the hour was to promote the utilization of Renewable sources of energy in agricultural activities by creating awareness amongst the farmers besides incentivizing them.
The Chief Minister informed Dr Abdullah that though the Union government was already providing subsidy to the farmers for encouraging them to adopt solar energy for agriculture but this subsidy was meager due to which the farmers were hesitating to adopt it. Mr Badal urged the Union Minister that if the subsidy was raised from existing 30% to 70% then it would give the much needed impetus to the use of Solar energy which would not only help in reducing the power consumption in the state but it would also go a long way in benefitting the farmers in supplying reliable power.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister, Dr Abdullah appreciated the efforts made by the state government to promote new and renewable energy with a twin objective of benefitting the farmers by ensuring uninterrupted supply of quality power on one hand and saving abundant electricity on the other. Assuring all possible assistance and co-operation to the state government on behalf of the GoI, Union Minister said that they would make concerted efforts to make this mission a huge success. Dr Abdullah said that he would soon convene a meeting of his ministry tosympathetically consider the proposal of the state government to enhance the existing subsidy on the solar irrigation pump sets from 30% to 70%.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr Gaggandip Singh Brar.