Maharashtra launches project to connect farmlands with solar power

Ahmednagar: To provide the state’s farmlands 12 hours uninterrupted power by tapping solar energy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for a pilot project at Ralegan-Siddhi, the famed model village created by social crusader Anna Hazare, under the state government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Agricultural Solar Feeder Scheme’.

“With this Agricultural Solar Feeder Scheme, we will be able to provide electricity to our farmers during the daytime. This is a clean and green energy, is environment-friendly and I am confident that in three years it will change the entire scenario of the agricultural sector. The scheme has earned laurels from the NITI Aayog, which has asked other states to emulate it” Fadnavis said.

The Central government will allocate Rs 3 crore per plant enabling the state to generate solar power at a cheaper rate and lead to massive savings over the next 10 years or so, especially since installation and price per unit of solar power have reduced in recent times, said officials.

“If we want to save the state from pollution, then everyone should make maximum use of solar energy. Soon we will have to generate electricity from waste, which in turn will add to cleanliness, so ‘Waste is Best’,” Hazare said on the occasion.

State Water Resources Minister Ram Shinde, who is also Ahmednagar’s Guardian Minister said “Solar energy will enhance the livelihood of people of the region and Ralegan-Siddhi was the ideal choice for setting up the state’s first solar agricultural feeder projects.”