Solar power plants can be installed on pastureland, besides barren, fallow and agricultural land
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended/clarified implementation guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme based on the learnings from the implementation of the Scheme during the first year. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved PM-KUSUM scheme in its meeting held on February, 2019. The Scheme consists of three components.
The Component-A includes installation of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants, Component-B includes installation of standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps and Component-C includes Solarization of Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps.
The MNRE expands scope of PM-KUSUM Scheme to enable greater solar energy generation in farm sector. Now, solar power plants can be installed on pastureland and marshy land of farmers besides barren, fallow and agricultural land. Also, the size of solar plant has been reduced to enable participation of small farmers.
With the new amendments, solar pumps can be set up and used by Water User Associations (WUAs)/Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACSs) or for cluster based irrigation system. Separate bids will be invited for solar pumps with Universal Solar Pump Controller (USPC), wherein, the latter will receive subsidy benefit.
