Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 15: Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology (S&T), Saurabh Bhagat, today chaired the maiden meeting of the Steering Committee constituted for smooth implementation of PM-KUSUM Scheme across Jammu and Kashmir at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by MD, KPDCL, CE JPDCL, CEO, Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and officers from JKSPDC, Finance, I&FC, Horticulture, Agriculture Departments and other allied departments.
During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary briefed the members on all the three components of the PM-KUSUM Scheme which has primarily been conceived for upliftment of farmers in the country. The Committee members were also updated on the progress achieved by JAKEDA under Component ‘A’ and ‘B’ of PM-KUSUM Scheme.
The Commissioner Secretary also advised the officers of Agriculture and Horticulture departments for identification of prospective beneficiaries who could avail the benefits of PM-KUSUM scheme including the provision of easy financing of beneficiary shares, for installation of solar agriculture pumps, through J&K Bank under Kissan Dost Scheme.
It was informed in the meeting that the Component ‘A’ of PM-KUSUM scheme envisages setting up of Decentralized Ground/ Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based power plants in the capacity range of 0.5 to 2.0 MW within 5 Km radius of grid sub-stations. Under this component JAKEDA has identified seven sites for development of solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 13.4 MWs.
The Component ‘B’ of the scheme entails installation of Standalone Solar Agriculture Pumps by farmers with a collective subsidy of 80% for irrigation of their farm lands. JAKEDA has installed 900 solar pumps across the UT of J&K under this component, against a target of 5000 pumps sanctioned by the MNRE, GoI.
Similarly, under Component ‘C’ of PM-KUSUM Scheme JAKEDA is contemplating to solarize 4000 individual Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps ranging from 1 HP to 15 HP Capacities at a total project cost of Rs.140 Cr in a phased manner with an aim to reduce the electricity subsidy burden of the DISCOMs and earnings by farmers through sale of excess solar power to the DISCOMs or the excess energy generated could be adjusted against the energy bills of their residences under Group Net Metering facility.
During the meeting various issues including execution of power purchase agreements with the farmers under component ‘A’ of the scheme and installation of bi-directional net meters for all rooftop solar consumers were discussed with the DISCOMs who assured their full cooperation for successful implementation of the scheme.
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