JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Department of Science & Technology, conducted an awareness programme at Pakhi Morh, Ramgarh, Samba, for sensitization of farmers regarding use of Solar Energy for powering irrigation pumps. The programme was conducted under the Chairmanship of Commissioner Science & Technology, Saurabh Bhagat.
Present on the occasion were Rajesh Sharma, District Development Commissioner Samba, Neelam Khajuria, Additional Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Dr. P. R. Dhar, CEO, JAKEDA, Chief Agriculture Officer Samba and Deepak Sharma, Regional Head JAKEDA, besides officers from Agriculture Department and JAKEDA. During the programme, the CEO JAKEDA apprised the officers and the farmers of various benefits/incentives being extended by the Union Ministry for New & Renewable Energy, MNRE, under PM-KUSUM scheme, which is primarily meant for upliftment of the farmers.
The participants were told that the farmers can 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 under “Component A” of PM-KUSUM. Besides, for development of 1 MW Solar Plant Project 4 acre of land is required.
Under “Component B” of PM-KUSUM Scheme, the farmers are allowed to install subsidised Solar Powered Pumps up to 10 H.P. 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 Government of J&K and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% of cost of the pump.
In addition, the farmers are allowed for Solarisation of grid connected Powered Agriculture Pumps with Solar pump capacity upto two times the installed pump capacity in KW under “Component C” of the PM-KUSUM Scheme. Under this Component, the farmers can export the excess energy to the Grid and shall receive the benefits of the exported energy from the DISCOM. 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 UT and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% of cost of the pump.
The pamphlets containing all the related information of Solar Pumps under PM-KUSUM scheme like prices, subsidy amount, beneficiary share, contact numbers of district nodal person were distributed among the farmers and the officers. Commissioner Secretary S&T advised the Chief Agriculture Officer to identify the prospective farmers who could benefit from the PM-KUSUM scheme and increase their crop production without incurring any cost on irrigation facility.
The District Development Commissioner Samba, speaking on the occasion, thanked JAKEDA for conducting the awareness program at Samba and assured JAKEDA of full support in implementation of the scheme in the district. The farming community requested JAKEDA to simplify the process of sanctioning the solar pumps so that these are installed in shortest possible time. The implementing firms M/s KLK Ventures and M/s Aditya Solar were also present at the event for registration of prospective farmers under the scheme.
