NEW DELHI: A scheme has been set up where farmers can set up solar panels and augment their income by producing electricity, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
“Farmers can set up solar panels and produce 2 Mega Watt electricity and earn upto Rs one lakh annually,” Union Power and New & Renewable energy Minister R K Singh while responding to supplementaries during Question Hour.
He said the government will purchase the electricity from farmers and the scheme will be launched in next 15-20 days.
The minister said the ministry has launched Surya Skill Development programme in 2015 to train 50,000 ‘suryamitras’ by 2020.
The scheme has been designed with the objective to perform various jobs related ti installation, commissioning and operation and maintenance of solar PV systems.
The complete financial assistance for the programme will be provided by the ministry which includes course fee, boarding and lodging charge and the assessment charge.
The government has made arrangements so that either the farmer can give his land to developer or can do it himself, Mr Singh said.
India’s level of producing renewable energy was highest in the world and it had a target to produce 1,75,000 Mega Watt renewable energy, the minister said, adding that the country will cross its target by 2022.
(AGENCIES)