Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, announced on Wednesday that the state government has set a target of installing two lakh solar agricultural pumps.
Fadnavis, who also holds the charge of the Energy Department, held a review meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai.
He further said that "The state government has set the target of installing two lakh agri solar pumps in the upcoming months," The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) will provide the remaining ones, with the Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA) setting up one lakh.
He stated that the necessary components of this initiative to install solar agri pumps would be covered under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) but, he did not specify how many pumps have already been placed in the state.
“The state government is also taking steps towards agri feeders to be converted on solar energy to benefit farmers. I have asked the officials to take efforts in reduce the transmission losses,” he said.
According to Fadnavis, the state government has also given its approval for a wind energy project in Uran, close to Mumbai.
A few months ago, Fadnavis stated that the government will accelerate the agriculture solar power supply scheme for the benefit of the farmers and that nearly 30% of the agricultural feeders would be powered by solar energy.
The administration would focus on strengthening the availability of electricity in rural areas, providing farmers with agricultural pumps, and further enhancing the water supply.
