The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Department of Science & Technology, conducted an awareness programme to sensitize the farmers regarding use of solar energy for powering of irrigation pumps under PM-KUSUM scheme and Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power Plants for residential sector.
Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology, Saurabh Bhagat, inaugurated the event. Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, Dr. P.R.Dhar, officers from Horticulture, JAKEDA, Agriculture, J&K Bank and other line departments attended the programme.
Commissioner Secretary apprised the officers and the farmers of various benefits/incentives being extended by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under PM-KUSUM and Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power Plant scheme.
He said 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 Ministry provides a subsidy of 50% of the cost of the pump, 30% of the cost is being provided by the UT government and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% cost of the pump, he informed.
Saurabh Bhagat informed 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.
Commissioner Secretary asked the District Development Commissioner to identify a village which could be developed as a Model Village with most of its energy needs to be met from Solar Energy.
He exhorted upon the Jammu and Kashmir Bank officers to make easy financing available to the prospective beneficiaries through Kissan Credit Cards. Pertinently, 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.
For development of 1 MW Solar Plant Project, 4 acre of land are required approximately. Later, pamphlets containing all the related information of Solar Pumps under PM-KUSUM scheme and Rooftop Solar Scheme like prices, subsidy amount, beneficiary share, contact numbers of district nodal persons were distributed among the farmers and the officers.