PANAJI
Taking serious note of the fact that barely above 14 per cent of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Uthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme’s target of 700 stand-alone solar pump target being achieved by the State since its sanction in 2021, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (NRE) has now warned the Goa government that the allocation may be cancelled if the unsatisfactory progress continues.
The Ministry, via a communication on April 29, has granted extension till December 31, 2025, to Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) to complete the installation of 700 solar pump targets or face cancellation of allocation.
“The State is requested to expedite the implementation of the PM-KUSUM scheme. The extension of the projects is subject to milestone-based progress, as per scheme guidelines and non-satisfactory progress may lead to cancellation of the allocation,” Scientist Dr Nikhil Gakkhar said in the letter.
The GEDA had approached the Ministry requesting extension of project implementation. As on date, around 100 pump sets are being installed under the scheme.
The PM-KUSUM scheme, aimed at making the agriculture sector energy efficient has got 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 Ministry in Lok Sabha, in February, the State was sanctioned a target installation of 700 solar powered agricultural pump sets upto 7.5 horse power capacity and as on date, 100 pump sets are installed under the scheme.
The data also shows that under Component A, Goa has set a target of 50 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. However, till date the State has not managed to install or generate even one MW of power.
Further, ground-mounted 700 solar plants of 1.7MW capacity 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.
