8000 megawatt power generation fixed for daily electricity supply to farmers 

Tenders have been finalised for solar power generation capacity of 8000 MW under Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (MSKVY 2.0). Reputed companies have participated in the process and they are expected to develop projects within 18 months after issuance of letters of intent, after which farmers in Maharashtra will get 12 hours day time power supply for irrigation, said Deputy Chief Minister as well as Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis today in State Legislative Council.

As per further information from MSEDCL, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that there is a demand to provide day time power supply to farmers for irrigation. For that purpose, land was made available on a large scale under MSKVY 2.0. There is record response to tenders called for developing solar power generation plants on this land and tender process is completed for 8000 MW. Concerned companies will be issued letters of intent after getting approval from Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC). The letters will be issued before the model code of conduct comes in to effect. After that the companies are expected to complete projects within 18 months. Thanks to this scheme, solar power supply will be provided to the most of agriculture feeders.

He said that power will be available at a competent tariff of Rs. 2.90 to Rs. 3.10 per unit as per the tenders submitted. Presently power is available for Rs. 7 per unit and it is provided to farmers at subsidised rate of about Rs. 1.5 per unit. So, subsidy of Rs. 5.5 has to be given. This subsidy is provided by the state government and also by levying cross subsidy on industrial tariff. Now, after electricity is available at a cheaper rate, even if the power tariff for farmers is maintained at Rs. 1.5 per unit, the need for subsidy will reduce significantly. Hence, there won’t be a need to increase power tariff for industry, in fact it can be made competitive.

Central government has adopted MSKVY 2.0 and instructed other states to implement it. High level delegation of Karnataka had visited Maharashtra to study the scheme. Rajasthan has also studied this scheme.

MSKVY 2.0 was launched in April 2023 by Devendra Fadnavis to generate power using solar energy and to use it specifically for day time power supply to farmers for irrigation. Public land has been made available for the scheme on a large scale. Also, private land wherever required will be taken on annual rent of Rs. 50,000 per acre. Presently farmers are provided electricity for pumps during day and night in two shifts. Farmers face multiple problems while irrigating land during the night. So, there is a repeated demand to provide electricity for agriculture pumps only during the day.

Shreyas Vange