PANAJI
Only 10 per cent of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Uthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme’s target of 900 solar pump installations by 2026 has been achieved by Goa as on date. The scheme, aimed at making the agriculture sector energy efficient, has seen installation of just 90 solar powered agricultural pump sets so far.
The PM KUSUM scheme, launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in July 2019 has three components -- to install grid-connected, ground-mounted, solar-power plants on barren, fallow, marshy or cultivable lands by individual farmers or solar power developers or local bodies.
The second component is about installation of stand-alone solar pumps in off-grid areas and under third, solarisation of grid connected agriculture pumps.
According to the information provided by the department of New and Renewable Energy, State has set a target installation of 900 solar powered agricultural pump sets up to 7.5 horse power capacity till March 2026.
Till date, about 350 applications have been received by Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) -- the nodal agency for implementing the scheme -- for installation of the pumps and work is in progress. As on date, 90 pump sets are installed under the scheme.
The data also shows that under Component A, Goa has set a target of 150 MW of power generation and two power purchase agreements under the scheme have been executed for purchase of 4 MW of solar plants which would be set up by farmers in their farms.
Further, ground mounted solar plants of capacity 1.7MW have been installed so far. The Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy has approved solarisation of feeders for the State in lieu of individual solarisation of 11,000 of agricultural pumps.
As per the energy consumption data of agricultural pumps, a cumulative capacity of 13.6 MWp is required to be installed to offset the units consumed by 11,000 agricultural pumps.
Sources informed that the area for the installation of 13.6 MW solar plant at various substations have been identified and the project will be taken up shortly.
