The event was presided over by Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, here in Pulwama. The awareness programme was attended by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary, Additional Director J&K Science Technology and Innovation Council, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, Executive Officers, JAKEDA, officers from Horticulture and Agriculture Departments, district administration Pulwama, and JAKEDA officials.
According to an official press release, during the programme, Saurabh Bhagat informed the officers and farmers about various benefits and incentives being extended by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the PM KUSUM scheme, which is primarily intended to uplift farmers. According to the Commissioner Secretary, the scheme allows farmers to instal subsidised Solar Powered Pumps with a capacity of up to 10 HP for irrigation purposes, with a choice of AC/DC Surface and Submersible Pumps.
The Commissioner Secretary also discussed the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme, which provides a collective subsidy of 65% to DISCOM domestic customers for the installation of Rooftop Solar Plants to offset their electricity bills through the Net-Metering mechanism. "Such schemes are the only viable solution to the existing strain on electricity availability in the UT," Commissioner Secretary said of the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme. He added that similar schemes will be implemented in the Pulwama DC office complex and all government offices in the near future to reduce reliance on electricity.
"That will set an example for the general public to reap the benefits of the Government of India's highly subsidised scheme," he added. Deputy Commissioner said on the occasion that installing such pumps will relieve the farmer community of the burden of electricity charges, thereby strengthening them economically. As a result, the farmers' net income will rise.
In this regard, the PM KUSUM scheme is divided into two parts. Under Component "B," diesel-powered pumps could be replaced by solar-powered pumps, and new pumps could be installed in off-grid areas under decentralised application, whereas under Component "C," farmers could replace electrical pumps with solar-powered pumps. According to an official statement, the Ministry provides a subsidy of 50% of the cost of the pump, 30% of the cost is provided by the Government of J&K, and the beneficiary/farmer bears only 20% of the cost of the pump, which can also be financed by any bank at meagre interest rates.
Water User Associations can also install community/cluster-based irrigation pumps with a capacity of up to 10HP under the scheme. The Pulwama District has been informed that an initial target of 161 Solar Pumps has been assigned to it. It was also stated that District Level Committees have been formed to oversee the smooth implementation of the PM-KUSUM Scheme in the UT.
Furthermore, farmers can set up Grid Connected Solar Power Plants with capacities ranging from 0.5 MW to 2.0 MW on Barren Land banks for the sale of power to DISCOMs and earn Rs 40 lakh per MW annually. Pamphlets containing all relevant information about Solar Pumps under the PM-KUSUM scheme and Rooftop Solar Scheme, such as prices, subsidy amount, beneficiary share, and contact numbers of district nodal persons, were later distributed to farmers and officers.
