Fixing power woes: Water pump demand surges in Rajasthan

With the cost of solar pumps coming down, applications for solar water pumps is steeply rising in the state. Horticulture department has the target to install 7,500 solar pumps this year against which the number of new and pending applications have gone above 17,000. The reason behind truckloads of applications is that farmers in remote areas face irregular or no electricity supply.

“With prime minister Narendra Modi promoting startups, a number of companies have started solar water pumps business and the competition has resulted into decrease in prices,” horticulture minister Prabhu Lal Saini told DNA. “In 2016-17, the cost of a 3Hp (horsepower) solar water pump base model was Rs 3.72 lakh for DC (direct current) and Rs 3.40 lakh for AC (alternating current). In 2018-19 it has come down to Rs 2.52 lakh for DC and Rs 2.30 lakh for AC. Similarly, rate of 5Hp DCsolar water pump has come down to Rs 3.44 lakh from Rs 5.09 lakh and AC has reduced to Rs 3.06 lakh from 4.84 lakh,” he added.

It is worth mentioning that during 2017-18, solar water pumps were not installed in the state. Earlier horticulture department had the responsibility to install solar water pumps, but last year it was given to energy department. In the meantime, the horticulture department had floated tenders and had finalised the suppliers. 

But energy department again floated tenders on which the companies and suppliers who were finalised by the horticulture department moved to the court demanding work order. Followed by that, the government again gave this work to horticulture department in the end of 2017-18. Now the horticulture department through tenders has finalised approximately 24 companies who will supply solar water pumps to the farmers across the state.

“The government is giving 60% subsidy on solar pumps to the the farmers who do not have any electricity connection. The farmers who had applied for electricity connection and solar water pumps are given 75% per cent subsidy if they surrender their application for electricity connection,” said Saini.

The popularity of solar pumps among farmers is increasing because of its cost effectiveness. A 3hp diesel pump consumes 2.5 litres diesel in one hour and farmers run it for about eight hours. The solar water pump project was started in 2010-11 in Rajasthan and till 2016-17, total 29,667 pumps have been installed in the state.These solar water pump plants are generating around 113 megawatt electricity and approximately 74,167 hectares are being irrigated.