Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that Maharashtra has biggest burden for subsidising power for agricultural activity in the country.
The state government would try to bring the entire power supply feeder for agriculture on solar panels and would try to install energy efficient pumps for agriculture throughout the state. The initiative would bring down money required for cross subsidy for agriculture, resulting in to bringing down power tariff in the state.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that Maharashtra has biggest burden for subsidising power for agricultural activity in the country. He informed that the power which costs Rs5 to 5.50 per unit is provided at just Re1 per unit for agriculture. "The burden of this is being passed on to industry and state government is trying to bring agricultural feeder on solar power so that in coming 15-20 years state can bring down the electricity charges for industry," he said.
The 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 it has already started in Vidarbha region and the government is trying to explore the idea of going for investment in solar power which other wise would be spent for providing subsidy for agricultural power and create arrangement of providing solar power for coming decades.
"As it is the state is spending huge money for providing power at cheaper rate for agriculture. If the amount is invested in solar energy this would result in saving this subsidy amount since agriculture would have separate feeders and it is technically possible and feasible," said the official.
Since it is not possible to bring down cost of production for power through coal and since there is compulsion of 10 per cent solar power production as per international treaty to which India is signatory, the state would have to generate 10 per cent of non-conventional energy.
As the state has been generating wind energy it would have to achieve a target for solar energy and that is the reason, the official informed, the government would be providing solar power for the agricultural feeder in coming years.
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