Punjab to Install 20,000 Solar Water Pumps by 2022

solar hydro pumping project would be given impetus which would act as a game changer in the irrigation sector and within a few years span

By the year 2020, Punjab government is aiming to install 20,000 solar water pumps across the state. The project will be executed under the solar hydro pumping project.

The state Power and Irrigation Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Sunday said that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is engaged actively in harnessing the immense potential of energy through establishing solar energy reactors, solar street lights, solar hydrothermal system, biomass power plants and mini hydel projects and utilizing the new and renewable sources i.e. sun, air, biomass and water.

“Apart from this, many projects are in full swing with regard to fulfilling the energy needs of the state. As part of this, solar hydro pumping project would be given impetus which would act as a game changer in the irrigation sector and within a few years span, solar pumps would be installed in large number throughout the state under the solar hydro pumping project,” he said.

Kangar said that the present Government has decided to implement solar pumping project by providing subsidy upto 80 percent as agreed in the first Cabinet meeting on March 18, 2017.

He said that a comprehensive plan has been chalked out for installing 20,000 solar pumps in Punjab during the 13th Five Year Plan (2017-2022).

“During the financial year 2018-19, 2800 solar pumps having a capacity of 2, 3 and 5 HP would be installed under the funding pattern in which the ratio of the Centrally-sponsored, State sponsored and beneficiaries have been fixed with Rs 50 crore being sanctioned by the state,” said the Minister.

He said that the solar hydro pumping project is very beneficial for the State Government as well as the farming sector and would lead to conservation of the diesel, fuel, and environment.

Source: The Pioneer