Maha Govt to provide uninterrupted electricity for farmers through ‘Solar Feeders’
Mumbai, November 5: Maharashtra farmers soon will be provided with uninterrupted electricity with the help of solar feeders under 'Mukhyamantri Agricultural Solar Feeder Scheme'. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for the first solar project under the ‘Mukhyamantri Agricultural Solar Feeder’ scheme at Ralegan Siddhi.
The pilot project will come up at Ralegan-Siddhi, the famed model village created by social crusader Anna Hazare, under the state government's 'Mukhyamantri Agricultural Solar Feeder Scheme'.
"With this Agricultural Solar Feeder Scheme, we will be able to provide electricity to our farmers during the daytime. This is a clean and green energy, is environment-friendly and I am confident that in three years it will change the entire scenario of the agricultural sector," CM Fadnavis said. He added that the scheme has earned laurels from the NITI Aayog, which has asked other states to emulate it.
“Initially, the plan was a plan to provide solar pumps to farmers. However, when we realised that there were limitations for distributing solar pumps, it was decided to connect the solar panels to feeders for supply to agricultural pumps for farmers to ensure power for 12 hours a day,” CM added.
The Central government will allocate Rs 3 Crores per plant enabling the state to generate solar power at a cheaper rate and lead to massive savings over the next 10 years or so, especially since installation and price per unit of solar power have reduced in recent times, said officials.
"If we want to save the state from pollution, then everyone should make maximum use of solar energy," Anna Hazare said on the occasion.
Further, he added that soon we will have to generate electricity from waste, which in turn will add to cleanliness, so 'Waste is Best'.
State Water Resources Minister Ram Shinde said solar energy will enhance livelihood people of the region and Ralegan-Siddhi was the ideal choice for setting up the state's first solar agricultural feeder projects.