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Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
1,359 MW Solar power generation projects completed, Over 2 lakh farmers now get day time power supply, says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
MUMBAI: Solar power generation projects with a capacity of 1,359 MW were completed in the state, due to which 2.14 lakh farmers started getting daytime power supply, announced chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He congratulated the officials of the Energy Department, District Collectors, and all the concerned officers for the implementation of Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (MSKVY 2.0), which is being implemented for daytime supply of electricity to farmers for agricultural pumps. The high-level review meeting was held at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai. Under MSKVY 2.0, work is underway on solar power generation projects with a capacity of 15,284 MW in the state. With a total capacity of 16,000 MW, this is the largest decentralised solar power generation project in the world. At present, farmers get electricity in two shifts, day and night, for agricultural pumps. This scheme will meet the farmers' demand for only daytime power supply to pumps. The implementation of the scheme will be completed by September 2026. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The scheme was launched by Fadnavis in April 2023. After that, work is underway rapidly to make 40,000 acres of land available for solar power generation projects, issue tenders for solar power generation projects, issue work orders to private developers, and strengthen the electricity grid to efficiently deliver the newly generated power to agricultural pumps. This scheme will involve a private investment of about Rs 65,000 crore and will provide 70,000 jobs in rural areas. In the MSKVY 2.0, electricity will be available to Mahavitaran at an average cost of Rs 3 per unit. This will result in a significant reduction in the subsidy to be given by the state govt to provide free electricity to agricultural pumps. It will also be possible to remove the burden of cross-subsidy on industries. Overall, this is a game-changer scheme for the agriculture and industrial sectors. The central govt appreciated this scheme and instructed other states to follow suit. For this scheme, MSEDCL received around 20 national-level awards, including the National Award from the Indian Smart Grid Forum and the Skoch Award. The CM inaugurated the single window portal prepared for faster implementation of the scheme. He reviewed the administrative and technical difficulties in the implementation of the scheme and instructed all the concerned officers to remove the difficulties on priority. 'There are always complaints about the delay in the implementation of govt schemes. However, this scheme is an example of how if there is a right policy and well-designed scheme, govt schemes are implemented at a fast pace before time,' he said. Under this scheme, solar power generation projects will be set up at various places in the state, and all agricultural feeders will be run on solar energy.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kochi Water Metro sails into third year with patronage of 4 million commuters
The fleet of 19 air conditioned hybrid-electric Water Metro ferries that are operating in Kochi transported a total of 4 million commuters across 10 terminals in the Greater Kochi area, during the past two years. They were from among the twenty-three 100-passenger ferries for which Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) had placed an order with Cochin Shipyard. This first-of-its-kind water transport system in India that aims to introduce 78 ferries in the Greater Kochi area in a phased manner is being implemented by the Kerala government. It was officially launched on April 25, 2023. As it steps into its third year, the Water Metro is set to expand its operations both within Kerala and across India. The project had won the Gussies Electric Boat Award-2022 in the commercial ferry category and the Skoch Award for excellence in offering services to the public in the transport sector. The Union government had plans to probe the feasibility of replicating the model in 21 locations across the country, said a KMRL release. The agency's MD, Loknath Behera, hoped that the system of water transport would bring in sustainability and affordability in public transport and help decongest roads. A feasibility study to implement the Water Metro project in Mumbai has been submitted to the Maharashtra government by KMRL. The agency was also asked to conduct feasibility studies to implement the Water Metro system in 21 urban centers across 11 States and two Union Territories, it said.
