The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development (JAKEDA), Department of Science and Technology, conducted an awareness programme to sensitize the farmers regarding use of Solar Energy for powering of irrigation pumps.
The programme was conducted under the Chairmanship of Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Saurabh Bhagat and supervision of Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar.
The programme was also attended by CEO JAKEDA, Dr. P. R. Dhar, SDM Uri, Jatin Kishore, Chief Planning Officer, Baramulla, Mohammad Yousuf and other officers from Horticulture and Agriculture Departments besides district administration and JAKEDA.
During the programme, the officers and the farmers were apprised of various benefits and incentives being extended by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), under PM KUSUM scheme, which is primarily meant for uplift of farmers’ fraternity.
The scheme allows the farmers to install subsidized Solar Powered Pumps up to 10 HP capacity for irrigation purpose with a choice of AC/DC Surface and Submersible Pumps.The PM KUSUM scheme has broadly two main components. Under Component “B”, the Diesel Powered Pumps could be replaced by Solar Pumps and new pumps could also be installed in No-Grid areas under decentralized application while under Component “C”, Electrical Pumps could be replaced with Solar Powered Pumps by the farmers.
Under both the categories, the Ministry provides a subsidy of 50% of the cost of the pump, 30% of the cost is being provided by the Government of J&K and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% cost of the pump.
The scheme also allows installation of community/cluster based irrigation pumps upto 10HP capacity by Water User Associations. An initial target of 500 Solar Pumps was allocated to District Baramulla which could bring an investment of 14 crore in the district.
The District Level Committees have also been constituted to overlook smooth implementation of PM-KUSUM scheme in the UT.In addition, the farmers can also set up Grid Connected Solar Power Plants in the capacity range of 0.5 MW to 2.0 MW on Barron Land banks for sale of power to DISCOMs and make an average annual earning of Rs 40 lakh per MW.
Commissioner Secretary elaborated about the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar scheme, under which a collective subsidy of 65% shall be provided to the Domestic Consumers of DISCOMs for installation of Rooftop Solar Plants for offsetting their electricity bills under Net-Metering mechanism.
The pamphlets containing all the related information of Solar Pumps under PM-KUSUM scheme and Rooftop Solar Scheme like prices, subsidy amount, beneficiary share and contact numbers of district nodal person were distributed among the farmers and the officers.