Punjab farmers to get 90,000 solar pumps on 60% subsidy

Tribune News Service

Rajmeet Singh

Chandigarh, March 12

To tap solar energy, the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) is all set to provide 90,000 solar pumps to farmers for agriculture purpose in the state. Of these, 20,000 sets will be provided in the first phase and the remaining in the second phase.

‘Corruption’ in Pathankot MC

BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma pointed out that councillors in Pathankot MC had resorted to large-scale corruption by gobbling up funds meant for houses for the poor. Each beneficiary was to be given Rs 29,000 for the repair of houses. But the money never reached the intended beneficiaries.

1984 victims yet to be allotted houses: SAD

SAD MLA Manpreet Ayali said only 2,600 houses have been allotted to 25,000 riot victims in Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar. A total of 400 houses have been allotted in Ludhiana. Despite the order of the high court, all victims were yet to be rehabilitated.

Roads to Kartarpur corridor in bad shape

AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Nijjer informed the House that compared to roads on the Pakistan side, the roads leading to the Kartarpur corridor on the Indian side were not in good shape. He urged the PWD Minister to repair the Amritsar-Fatehgarh Churian road.

Replace old vehicles: Cong

Congress MLA Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, pointing to an incident when the braking system of his official vehicle failed while on a tour to the Kandi area, said vehicles allotted to MLAs had covered more than five lakh km and needed replacement.

No funds released under Shagun

Congress MLA Aruna Chaudhary pointed out that the government had not released funds for marriage of poor girls during the last one year under the Shagun scheme. The previous Congress government had increased the amount from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000. The MLA said in Pathankot alone, 1,650 applications were pending. In many cases, the families had taken loan in anticipation of release of the funds under the scheme.

Sharing the information during Question Hour, New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora, replying to AAP MLA, Shutrana, Kulwant Singh Bazigar, said for solar pumps, 60 per cent subsidy would be provided by the state and the remaining would be borne by the farmer. In dark zones, the farmers, who had a sprinkler and drip irrigation system, would be eligible for getting solar pumps, said the minister.

Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar pointed out that the process for online application for solar pumps was complicated and forced farmers to be fleeced by agents.

Raising the issue of shortage of power connection for agriculture purposes, Bazigar said since March 2018, there had been a ban on the tubewell connections and he sought lifting of water from the Ghaggar for irrigation purposes. In reply, the minister said solar pumps would be an effective alternative source of power for farmers.

On a question by AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra regarding installation of solar panels at the rooftops of government schools in Sanaur, the minister said 15 solar rooftop PV panels with a capacity of 75-KW had already been installed at government schools in Sanaur.

After the approval of funding, more schools would be equipped with rooftop solar panels.

As many as 3,355 rooftop solar power panels with a capacity of 19.784-MW have been installed at government and semi-government institutions, including hospitals, schools, and SPV plants of 1.8MW capacity were being installed at 317 schools.

Apart from this, Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power Programme Phase-II had been handed over to the PSPCL and the latter had been executing the rooftop solar programme in the domestic sector, he added.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Agriculture #solar energy