Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has, on Friday, constituted a committee to study all aspects related to installation of solar agricultural pumpsets, and take decisions about government’s investment in them.
The committee will be headed by Principal Secretary of Industries Pradeep Chandra, and will have as members the principal secretaries of Finance, Energy, and Agriculture namely Nagi Reddy, S.K. Joshi, and Poonam Malakondaiah respectively.
The decision came after a review meeting conducted at the Secretariat with representatives of Kirloskar Brothers Limited and government officials.
Going through various proposals submitted by the company over solar pumpsets, Mr. Rao sought an estimate about the cost-effectiveness of replacing all the 20 lakh agricultural pumpsets in the State vis-à-vis the current subsidy for free power.
As per official information, cost of seven-hour power supply worked out to Rs.15 crore per day for 30 million units. However, cost comparison is yet to be carried out.
The Chief Minister reminded that the budget allocation for the scheme was Rs. 240 crore and suggested a pilot project to check the feasibility, before being replicated throughout the State. For this, the associated vice-president of the company Rajendra V. Mahajan and GM Ajay Shirodkar said one lakh pumpsets may be installed in the first year, and the project may be completed in the coming ten years, a press communiqué from the CMO informed.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Advisor to the government B.V. Paparao and Principal Secretary, CMO, S. Narsing Rao, apart from four aforementioned committee members.
