Punjab to provide 90K solar pumps for agriculture purposes

In a bid to ensure optimum utilisation of the natural solar energy and decarbonise the agriculture sector as envisioned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is all set to provide 90,000 new solar pumps to farmers for agriculture purposes in the state, said Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora in Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. He was replying to MLA Shutrana Kulwant Singh Bazigar.

Aman Arora said that 20,000 agriculture solar pump-sets will be provided under the first phase and the remaining 70,000 solar pumps will be given in the 2nd phase.

He also made it clear that these solar pumps will be allotted to those farmers, who have a sprinkler and drip irrigation system in dark zones to save precious water.

However, farmers having land in no dark zone area can apply for solar pumps without the condition of sprinkler and drip irrigation system installed in their fields. Farmers will get a 60 percent subsidy on the solar pumps, he added.