Awareness cum Publicity Programme regarding PM-KUSUM held at Trewa

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development (JAKEDA), Department of Science & Technology, conducted an awareness programme at Panchayat Trewa Arnia, for sensitization of farmers regarding use of Solar Energy for powering of irrigation pumps. The programme was conducted under the Chairmanship of Director Agriculture Jammu, S. Arvinder Singh Reen and CEO JAKEDA, Dr. P. R. Dhar, in presence of SDM South Rafiq Ahmed, Chief Scientist Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dr. Punit Chowdhary, Munish Sharma Additional Director Fisheries, Ashu Kokria, District Agriculture Officer Jammu, Er. Khalid Mehmud, Executive Engineer JAKEDA and Deepak Sharma, Regional Head JAKEDA.

The programme was also attended by other officers from Agriculture Department and JAKEDA. During the programme, the CEO JAKEDA apprised the Officers and the Farmers about the various benefits/incentives extended by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy MNRE Gol, under PM - KUSUM Scheme, which is primarily meant for upliftment of the farmers.

Under “Component A” of PM-KUSUM Scheme, 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 lakhs per MW. For development of 1 MW Solar Plant Project 4 acres of land are required approximately.

Under “Component B” of PM-KUSUM Scheme, farmers are allowed to install subsidized 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 Govt. of J&K UT and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% cost of the pump.

In addition to the above, under “Component C” of the PM-KUSUM Scheme, farmers are allowed for Solarization of grid connected Powered Agriculture Pumps with Solar pump capacity upto two times of installed pump capacity in kW. 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 Govt. of J&K UT and the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% 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 etc were distributed among the farmers and the officers for their convenience.

The CEO JAKEDA advised the District 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 Director Agriculture Jammu, was requested to ensure that maximum farmers could avail the benefits of the Scheme in coming days.

The SDM South speaking on the occasion, thanked JAKEDA for conducting the awareness program at Trewa panchayat and assured JAKEDA of full support in implementation of the scheme in the District.

The farming community requested JAKEDA to simply the process of sanctioning the solar pumps so that these are installed in shortest possible time. The implementing firms M/s KLK Ventures were also present at the event for registration of prospective farmers under the scheme.