The initiative is aimed at bringing down the money required for cross subsidy in agriculture.
The state will try to bring the entire power supply feeder for agriculture on solar panels and install energy efficient pumps throughout the state. The initiative will bring down the money required for cross subsidy in agriculture and also power price in Maharashtra.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that Maharashtra has the biggest burden of subsidising power for agricultural activity in the country. Power which costs Rs 5 to Rs 5.50 per unit is provided at just Re 1 per unit for agriculture. Since the burden of this is being passed on to the industrial sector, the government is trying to bring agricultural feeder on solar power so that in 15-20 years the state can bring down electricity charges for industries.
Chief minister was addressing a function in which he launched four mobile apps developed for Mahavitaran, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). An official informed that if the huge amount of money spent on providing power at cheaper rate for agriculture is invested in solar power, it would result in saving this subsidy amount since agriculture would have separate feeders. This, he added, is technically possible and feasible.
Since it is not possible to bring down the cost of production for power through coal and since there is compulsion of 10% solar power production as per an international treaty to which India is signatory, the state would have to generate 10% of non-conventional energy.
Since Maharashtra has been generating wind energy, it would have to achieve a target for solar energy and that is the reason, the official added, the government would be providing solar power for the agricultural feeder in the coming years.
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