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Maharashtra installed more solar pumps in two years than rest of country collectively: CM Devendra Fadnavis
Pune: Chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis
on Sunday said Maharashtra has outpaced the rest of the country in the installation of solar-powered agriculture pumps.
Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of Maha Urja's new administrative building in Aundh, Fadnavis said the state installed five lakh solar pumps for farmers over the past two years, compared to four lakh installed across the rest of India in the same period.
Fadnavis highlighted the state's progress in conventional and non-conventional energy initiatives and said that Maharashtra is on track to become a leader in solar energy.
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana', state govt is in the process of shifting 1,600 megawatt (mW) of agricultural feeders to solar energy, a project expected to be completed by 2026. "This will be Asia's largest solar project through distribution once completed," Fadnavis said.
The CM said state govt is working towards converting all major administrative buildings of govt to solar power by Dec 2025. Earlier this year, Central govt also issued guidelines to all states to electrify administrative buildings through solar energy before Dec 2025 under the 'PM Suryaghar-Free Electricity Scheme'.
The building inaugurated by Fadnavis in Aundh also fulfils norms for recognition as a green building.
CM said that the infrastructure of the building generates energy it requires, and it is one of the best examples of green buildings.
Responding to media reports and criticism about diversion of funds for the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Scheme, Fadnavis said fund diversion can only be alleged when money allocated for one department or purpose is used for another. "If the funds are sanctioned for a specific department and the expenditure is shown under the same department, it cannot be termed as fund diversion," he said.
He further explained that as per govt financial procedures, it is mandatory to reflect budgetary expenditure under the head for which the funds are originally allotted.
Fadnavis said deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who also heads the finance ministry, mentioned in his budget speech that more funds were being allocated for schemes related to SC and ST communities compared to the usual allocation, and he also mentioned for what purpose the additional funds will be used.
CM takes dig at Rahul Gandhi
Speaking about his own article — that was written as a response to an article by Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India regarding the 2024 assembly elections — Fadnavis said, "I have responded to an article with another article, backed by facts and figures. I hope Rahul Gandhi will now stop making such statements."
He further took a dig at the Congress leader using a popular phrase to claim that the latter has been repeating the same mistake all his life — "Dhul chehre par thi, aur woh aaina saaf karte rahe hai (The dust was on his face, but he kept cleaning the mirror)."
