5 lakh solar pumps to be installed in a year's time: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

DNA , Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Correspondent : Shailendra Paranjpe
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, stated in Nagpur that five lakh solar pumps would be installed in the state in the next one year for agricultural purposes. Fadnavis who stated that mere relief measures weren't a lasting solution to the drought situation in the state, said he was looking at lasting solutions instead of knee jerk reactions when faced with problems. As per sources in MSEDCL, Maharashtra at present has 36 lakh agricultural pumps in use.

In an informal interaction with the media, the chief minister said he had inherited a baggage of problems from the previous Congress-NCP government, and that the state had to solve them first. Fadnavis made it clear that the amount doled out as subsidy in a year if utilised for setting up solar pumps would bring down the demand for power by 50%. He also said his government intended to replace all agricultural pumps with solar ones in due course of time.

Pointing out that almost Rs 8,000 crore had been spent in the last 5-6 years on relief measures alone, Fadnavis said only a 1,000 crore had been allocated for basic measures in the agricultural sector. He said climate change was having its impact and one should respond with a definite policy to counter it.

The chief minister said instead of relief measures, following the Madhya Pradesh model in agriculture could be a solution to achieve more than double digit growth in the sector. He pointed out that all expert committees had pointed out that Maharashtra had low agricultural productivity and should increase its irrigation facilities. The CM said it had been proved that solar pumps would ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers.

Optimizing resources, he said, could take care of additional capital investment which would lead the state on the path of progress instead of having to depend on the existing assets. He said his government was preparing a frame work to make available an additional Rs 20,000 crore as additional resources for capital investment.

Inquiries to go on

The chief minister made it clear on Tuesday that all inquiries going on into allegations over irrigation schemes and such others would continue, and that no inquiry would be called off.

* 5 lakh solar pumps to be set up in a year.

* Madhya Pradesh model for agricultural growth.

* All inquiries, including those into the irrigation scam, to go on.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-5-lakh-solar-pumps-to-be-installed-in-a-year-s-time-devendra-fadnavis-2042619
 


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