Around 15,000 pumps were installed in the year 2020-21 have added about 105 MW of solar capacity in Haryana and have resulted in reduction of carbon footprint by about 76,000 tonnes per annum.
The farmers of the country are getting the benefit of PM-KUSUM scheme. Under the scheme, Haryana has stood first in the country to install off-grid solar pumps under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM). The state has installed 14,418 pumps against the sanctioned 15,000 pumps for the year 2020-21.
Appreciating the farmers of the state for adopting solar pumps on such a large scale, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that this is one of the steps taken by the government towards doubling the income of the farmers by reducing the cost of agriculture.
Giving detailed information about the scheme, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Director General, Department of New and Renewable Energy and HAREDA said that the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had started PMKUSUM scheme in the year 2019 with a target of setting up 20 lakh standalone solar pumps, under which Under this, Haryana was given a target of setting up 15,000 pumps with a total cost of Rs 520 crore for the year 2020-21.
Get 75% subsidy
Under the scheme, stand alone solar pumps of 3 HP to 10 HP capacity are being installed in the state with 75% subsidy. The Government of India is providing 30% central financial assistance and the state government 45% subsidy. Farmers have to pay only 25% of the total pump cost. He said that these pumps can be installed by farmers/water users association/community/cluster based irrigation system etc. for irrigation purpose only.
Reduction in carbon footprint
The module life of a solar pump is 25 years and when compared with diesel powered pumps, it will pay its subsidy cost in about one and a half years. Dr Hanif said that these pumps run only during the day time so farmers do not have to go for irrigation during night time. He said that around 15,000 pumps installed in the year 2020-21 have added about 105 MW of solar capacity in the state and have resulted in reduction of carbon footprint by about 76,000 tons per annum.
Extended target
He said that the response of the farmers towards this scheme, the department has received more than 42,000 online applications against the target of 15,000 pumps. In view of this response, the department has set a target of setting up 22,000 pumps with a total project cost of Rs 844 crore for the current financial year and for this soon after the finalization of rates and firms by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
