Srinagar, Nov 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development (JAKEDA), Department of Science & Technology, conducted an awareness programme at Dak Bunglow, Baramulla, for sensitization of farmers regarding use of solar energy for powering of irrigation pumps.
The programme was conducted under the Chairmanship of Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt Science & Technology Department and Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla. It was attended by Dr P R Dhar, CEO JAKEDA, Jatin Kishore, SDM Uri, Mohammad Yousuf, Chief Planning Officer, Baramulla, and other officers from Horticulture & Agriculture Departments, District Administration Baramulla and JAKEDA.
During the programme, the officers and farmers were apprised about various benefits and incentives extended by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy MNRE Gol, under PM – KUSUM Scheme, which is primarily meant for uplift the farmers. 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, whereas under Component “C”, Electrical Pumps could be replaced with solar powered pumps by farmers. Under both categories, the Ministry provides a subsidy of 50 percent of the cost of the pump, while 30 percent of the cost is being provided by the Govt of J&K UT and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20 percent cost of the pump. The scheme also allows installation of community/cluster based irrigation pumps up to 10HP capacity by Water User Associations. An initial target of 500 solar pumps was allocated to Baramulla, which could bring an investment of 14 crores in the district. The District Level Committees have also been constituted to overlook the smooth implementation of PM-KUSUM Scheme in UT of J&K.
In addition to the above, 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 lakhs per MW. For development of 1 MW Solar Plant Project 4 acres of land are required approximately.
The Commissioner/Secretary, S&T also informed about the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme, under which a collective subsidy of 65 percent 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, contact numbers of district nodal person etc were distributed among the farmers and the officers for their convenience.
