Only 1,946 ryots use solar pumps in 5 dists

Visakhapatnam: Only 51% of 2,861 eligible agriculture farmers in five districts in Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited (APEPDCL) limits are using the solar agriculture pump sets that was introduced by the discom in April 2015 under the Solar Agriculture Pump Set Scheme (SAPSS).

A total of 4,125 farmers applied for the agriculture pump sets from all districts including 620 candidates for 3HP pump sets and 3,505 candidates for 5HP pump sets as on date. Of this, only 2,861 farmers were eligible for the subsidised pump sets including 460 candidates for 3HP and 2,401 candidates for 5HP.

Of the total eligible, only 1,946 farmers paid their share (10% of the total pump set cost) to the discom, which paid 56% while the remaining 34% was funded by the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP). The discom completed installing the solar pump sets for 1,455 farmers only. The remaining farmers will get the pump sets by the end of this month, said B Ramesh Prasad, chief general manager (commercial), APEPDCL.

According to Ramesh Prasad, the cost of a 3HP pump set is about Rs 3.4 lakh, while the 5HP pump set costs around Rs 4.2 lakh. "The beneficiary's contribution is meagre and we will sanction the pump sets to the beneficiary soon after he contributes his share. APEPDCL will contribute its share through bankers. The pump sets which were already installed in the districts are running successfully," Ramesh Prasad told TOI.

Meanwhile, Ajay Jain, principal secretary to the state government (energy), told APEPDCL staff at a meeting that chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was keen on energy efficient measures adopted by power utilities of which solar agriculture pump sets is a key measure. Jain said asked the discom to complete the targets by the end of this financial year.

A senior APEPDCL official said several eligible farmers, who have already applied for the scheme, did not contribute their share due to various reasons including financial problems. "Bankers should play a pivotol role in helping poor farmers by sanctioning loans enabling them to contribute 10% of the total pump set cost," he said.