PEDA invites applications for 20k agriculture solar pumps

Chandigarh: In a move to harness solar power for greening the agriculture sector in Punjab, the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has invited applications for 20,000 solar pumps (Surface & Submersible) dedicated to agricultural use.

Disclosing this at a press conference in Sangrur, on Saturday, Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that farmers interested in installing solar pumps can now apply online at www.pmkusum.peda.gov.in from September 9th to September 30th, 2024. Farmers have the option to apply for solar pumps with capacities of 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 HP. A subsidy of 60% for General category farmers and 80% for Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers is available for the solar pump installations. Additionally, the state government has set aside 2000 solar pumps for SC farmers and 3000 for Gram Panchayats, he added.

In areas classified as dark zones (over-exploited ground-water blocks), these pumps will be allocated to farmers who already have micro (drip/sprinkler) irrigation systems installed on their bore-wells. Additionally, farmers and Panchayats utilising diesel pumps to extract water from village ponds, farm ponds, or canal water diggies are also eligible under the scheme, informed Mr. Aman Arora.

The cabinet minister categorically said that the farmers who have PSPCL electric motor connections or have installed solar pumps for irrigation in their names or in the name of their family members are not eligible to apply under this scheme. The interested farmers can visit www.pmkusum.peda.gov.in for more details and download the brochure of the scheme.

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*Details of 37 safe blocks in 12 districts*

PEDA has identified 37 safe blocks, where groundwater is on safe level, in 12 districts of the state. Bathinda district’s Talwandi Sabo, Sangat, Rampura, Sri Muktsar Sahib’s Gidderbaha, Lambi, Malout, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka district’s Abohar, Arniwala Sheikh Subanpur, Fazilka, Khuian Sarwar, Ferozepur district’s Makhu, Gurdaspur’s Dina Nagar, Dorangala, Sri Hargobindpur, Hoshiarpur’s Hoshiarpur-II, Bhunga, Hazipur, Mahilpur, Talwara, Mukerian, Mansa’s Budhlada, Jhunir, Sardulgarh, SBS Nagar’s Balachaur and Saroya, Pathankot’s Bamyal, Dhar Kalan, Narot Jaimal Singh, Pathankot, Sujanpur, Gharota, Patiala’s Ghanaur, Ropar’s Anandpur Sahib, Ropar & Nurpur Bedi and SAS Nagar’s Majri block falls under safe zone. The farmers of these safe blocks can apply for pumps without any rider.