With a particular emphasis on providing clean energy solutions to meet the increasing energy demands of the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has established an objective of deploying more than 30,000 solar photovoltaic irrigation pumps through the PM KUSUM Yojana during the current fiscal year. The total expenditure for this initiative amounts to Rs 434 crore, with the state and central governments contributing Rs 217.84 crore and Rs 217.09 crore, respectively.
The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Agency (UPNEDA) has been entrusted with the responsibility of executing this plan across the state. This initiative aims to furnish farmers in 75 districts with a clean energy-driven irrigation system through the installation of surface and submersible pumps.
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In line with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's guidelines from the Government of India, a grant of 60 percent of the benchmark cost for installing standalone solar pumps with capacities up to 7.5 HP will be provided. Of this grant, 30 percent will be covered by both the central and state governments. Farmers interested in installing standalone solar pumps through the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund have the option to secure a bank loan to cover their portion. Additionally, both the state and central governments will contribute 3 percent each, resulting in a total interest rebate of 6 percent on this loan.
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The installation of these pumps will facilitate the adoption of solar-powered irrigation among farmers, providing them with an affordable and environmentally friendly energy source. This initiative represents a significant step toward environmental conservation, aiding in the mitigation of climate change and reducing carbon emissions in the region. Simultaneously, it will lead to decreased irrigation expenses as farmers rely less on electricity and diesel for their agricultural operations.
As per the recently approved revised action plan, UPNEDA will support the installation of various solar pump types, including 1800 W 2 HP DC and AC surface and submersible pumps, 3000 W 3 HP DC-AC submersible pumps, 4800 W 5 HP AC submersible pumps, 6750 W 7.5 HP AC submersible pumps, and 9000 W 10 HP AC submersible pumps.
To take advantage of this program, interested individuals must register on the Agriculture department's website at www.upagriculture.com. Following registration, farmers should specify the pump specifications and categories for which they seek eligibility. Subsequently, the allocation of tokens to farmers will begin, and this allocation will follow a first-come, first-served basis. During the application process, farmers will be required to make an online payment of Rs 5000 as a token deposit. Subsidies for the installation of solar pumps will be provided to farmers based on allocated targets for all districts.
