Kotputli-Behror leads the way as govt rushes to solarize all agri connections
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As the energy department rushes to reduce unsustainable free power subsidies for up to 2000 units a month to nearly 18 lakh farmers, Kotputli-Behror district is setting an example.
Out of the 51,000 farmers in the district, 20,000 are already using solar power to irrigate their land. Projects currently under various stages of development will solarise all agriculture connections in the next one year, claimed a senior official of the Jaipur discom in Kotputli.
Kotputli-Behror may be leading the way, but the rush of projects in other districts in the past six months is slowly opening doors for discoms that remain locked in the vicious circle of running up debts and bailouts by the govt in every 5-7 years.
Arti Dogra, chairman of discoms, "Every day, around 225 farmers are getting connected to the solar power network. There are more than 60,000 farmers who are now using solar power to irrigate their farmland. We have lined up projects to shift the entire agriculture demand to solar sources by March 2028."
by Taboola
by Taboola
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While the farmers will continue to get free power from solar plants, the subsidy impact on the govt and the discoms is expected to be reduced by 60%.
Currently, the govt is shelling out annual subsidies of Rs 24,000 crore for providing free power to farmers. While the supply cost of power is around Rs 8 a unit, the discoms are procuring solar power for Rs 3.
Dogra said, "The three discoms in the state have a cumulative target of setting up 12,000 MW solar projects at the sub-station level. The capacity will be enough to meet the agricultural demand."
Underlining the importance of solar power, Dogra said, "Reliable power has come as a boon for many. Micro businesses too suffered due to erratic supply during the day. Now, the situation is changing in the Kotputli-Behror district. This will be a new reality in other districts as well."
Prem Lata, a farmer in Bhoopsera panchayat in Bansur block of the district, where the first solar project for agriculture came up, said now they have power throughout the day and at night as well.
"We have 20 bigha land. But raising crops with irrigation at night was very difficult and risky because of wild animals and snakes. Earlier, my husband used to go to the fields at night. Now, even if he does some other work, I can irrigate the fields during the day."
Highlighting the availability of power, she said solar power production has made normal (thermal) power available at night as well, which helps my kids to study.
Agriculture accounts for 40% of the state consumption, which varies between 2,700 million units to 3,500 million units. But most of the power fetches no revenue as it is subsidized by the govt.
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