Odisha to Provide Solar Power Pumps to its Farmers

Solar power is making some strides in the life of the ordinary citizens in the state of Odisha with intervention of the government through solar power. In a fresh development, State Minister for Industries, Pratap Keshari Deb spoke in the State Assembly that his government is targeting to provide 584 solar powered pumps to the farmers of the state in the ongoing fiscal.

The state minister was replying to a question asked by a member of the house. He held that Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) is presently implementing the PM-KUSUM Scheme Component-I in order to install Renewable Energy Power Plants (REPP). These plants will have a capacity range of 0.5 MW to 2 MW.

The minister held, “The state has set a target of producing at least 350 Megawatt solar power under the aegis of PM-KUSUM-Component-I. Similarly, under the PM-KUSUM Component-II, as many as 741 solar pumps have been provided to the farmers.”

He further said, “Apart from it, at least 167 solar power pumps have been functional, whereas the rest 317 solar pumps will be made functional before the deadline.”

The Solar Run of the State

In February, IIT Bhubaneswar had invented a state-of-art solar pump that is economical and portable to support farmers in distant locations in the state. The institute has already distributed 13 portable solar pumps.

In May, Chief Secretary of the state, SC Mohapatra unveiled a solar power system in a government high school in Ganjam district’s Narayanpatna area and held that a total of 535 schools in the coastal district are to be equipped with solar power systems. Subsequently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has also extended its support to Odisha in the development of green energy projects including solar.

Union MNRE Minister, R.K Singh has also declared recently that the Central Government has approved three solar power parks for the state of Odisha under the Solar Park Scheme that will have a cumulative capacity of 340 MW.