George interacts with farmers in Kodihally village harnessing Solar power for Irrigation Pump sets
MAGADI (BENGALURU):
In a major thrust towards the use of clean and green energy initiatives, Karnataka Energy Minister today inspected pump sets and interacted with farmer Lalitha C Das that is harnessing Solar power to energise irrigation pump sets at Kodihally village, Solur Hobli, Magadi taluk.
“Energy plays a significant role in the state’s progress and must be conserved most effectively. The use of solar pumps in rural areas where low operating and maintenance costs, ease of installation and a long service life make solar technology increasingly popular,” Energy Minister K J George said, inspecting a solar pump set in Solur village, Magadi Taluk today.
Solar-powered irrigation pump sets (IP) will ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the farmers and bring down the dependence on conventional sources of power, Minister added.
Solar water pump set scheme was launched in the state and implemented from 2014-15 for the 5hp category with funding from the Ministry of New Renewable Energy (GOI), Government of Karnataka and beneficiary contribution. Further, the solar pump set scheme is continued under PM-KUSUM component-B 2019 in the state. A total number of 4369 solar pump sets have been installed in the state by the Karnataka Energy Ministry.
Under the PM KUSUM Scheme, individual farmers are provided financial support to install standalone solar agriculture pumps of up to 7.5 HP for the replacement of existing diesel agriculture pumps/irrigation systems in off-grid areas where grid supply is not available. Pumps of a capacity higher than 7.5 HP can also be installed. However, the financial support is limited to 7.5 HP capacity.
Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Energy & Infrastructure, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Managing Director Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd, Rudrappaiah Karnataka Renewable Energy (KREDL) Managing Director and department senior officials were also present.
