Wednesday, September 17, 2014: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has asked the Odisha government to install over 1750 solar power driven agricultural pumps for irrigation and drinking water facility, with an aim to encourage the use of solar energy by farmers. As per MNRE the project of installing the pump sets in the state would require an investment of around Rs 70 million. However the ministry has set a condition that if in case government doesn’t show any progress by December to meet the target then it will reallocate the remaining amount to the other states.
The centre has allotted Rs 4,000 million to energise 100,000 solar power driven agricultural pumps and water pumping stations. The pump sets will be installed under the ‘Solar Pump Programmes’ being centrally sponsored.
The MNRE has also asked state government for providing an amount of subsidy to the farmers for the high initial capital cost incurred over installation of the pumps. MNRE would provide 30 per cent subsidy to cover the cost of setting up the pumps. The programme will ensure solar panels placement to generate electricity for running irrigation pump sets and will even enable farmers to sell excess power generated to the government.
