Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis launched the scheme in Ralegaon Siddhi village located in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra.
The scheme launched by Maharashtra Government aims to provide an uninterrupted electricity to the farmers for 12 hours a day. According to Maharashtra Government, INR 30 million ($451,000 ) has been allocated to each project.
Announcing the policy via twitter and facebook live, Fadnavis mentioned that the solar pumps had so far seen a lukewarm response, and hence this project is planned where solar power would be generated through small plants, to be distributed to dedicated feeders.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Fadnavis continued: “Maharashtra government would provide cheap and assured electricity to farmers across the state in the next three years” he added. He further said that this decision has taken to become self-sufficient in power sector.
The cost of electricity is coming down, and with solar power, it can go down more, presently varying around INR 3/kWh. Also, installation cost and per unit cost of solar power has been lowered substantially and will continue to fall. It is unlikely that it will increase soon too, hence the project has garnered a lot of support.
The NITI (National Institute of Transforming India) Ayog (Institute); a central government body for planning development and policies in India has endorsed this innovative project and have asked other states to replicate.
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