Maharashtra moots solar power for farm sector

MUMBAI:The Maharashtra Government is mooting setting up of wind and solar power projects in various parts of the state to delink power for the farm sector from the regular power grid.

The Maharashtra Government is mooting setting up of wind and solar power projects in various parts of the state to delink power for the farm sector from the regular power grid.

Stating this here on Saturday, Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the state government had set a target to generate 14,400 MW of renewable energy by December 2019, which would cater to the need of over four lakh farmers. “Already 1000 MW of solar power is being generated in Maharashtra and other projects will be undertaken in phases. We are setting up solar and wind power projects in western Maharashtra, Konkan, Aurangabad and Vidarbha, which will be completed by 2025,” he said.

“When all projects are completed, 45 lakh farmers in the state will be able to draw power during the day,” the minister said.

The Maharashtra Government has already started the process of separating the power supply lines to farmers, so that electricity to farms are not supplied from the regular grid. Electricity for the agricultural pump sets can be drawn only at night when the demand for power from industries is at its lowest.

However, farmers have to stay up at odd hours for the purpose. “They are demanding power supply during day time and this is possible only when they can avail solar power,” Bawankule said. He said the state government had supplied 5,500 solar pump sets and another 7,000 would be supplied in phases over the next two years.

Four lakh state farmers to benefit

The state government has set a target to generate 14,400 MW of renewable energy by December 2019, which will cater to the need of over four lakh farmers. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, minister.

Source: The Tribune