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MSEDCL installs only 12,500 of 1 lakh solar pumps targeted by March 2020


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Nagpur: Former energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had given a target to MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) of installing one lakh solar farm pumps by March 2020 under Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Yojana (MSKY). So far, it has been able to install only 12,500 pumps.

In view of the target for the financial year, the MSEDCL should have installed over 8,334 pumps a month and in the eight months that have passed, over 66,000 pumps should have been installed. Going by this rate, MSEDCL will need 64 months or over five years to complete the target.

In August, MSEDCL spokesperson had told TOI that the target would be achieved by the year end.

Earlier, 10,000 solar pumps were installed under Atal Saur Krishi Yojana after a delay of months. The deadline had to be extended by Bawankule several times.

A source in the MSEDCL said that solar pumps were to be installed in three packages of 25,000, 50,000 and 25,000. “So far, we have not been able to complete even the first package. We have received over 2 lakh applications from farmers,” he added.

MSEDCL spokesperson said that work of installing pumps got delayed due to rains. “Farmers were not ready to let us into their fields during rains. Now, the pace has picked up,” he added.

Commenting further on the reasons for the delay, the spokesperson said, “Tenders to purchase solar farm pumps were re-issued several times due to lack of response. When the tenders were finalized, the letters of agreement (LoAs) could not be issued due to Election Commission’s model code of conduct.”

MSEDCL’s performance in Vidarbha is as bad as other regions. It had received 49,956 applications for solar pumps of which 15,108 were rejected due to various reasons. Quotations were issued to the remaining 32,469, of which 15,718 applicants paid the required charges to the MSEDCL.

The spokesperson further said MSEDCL had made a provision of another one lakh solar pumps. “We are giving new connections to farmers through high voltage direct supply (HVDS). If a farmer wants a solar pump instead of a conventional one, we will provide him the same. Even otherwise, if the cost of providing supply to a farmer is more than Rs2.5 lakh then he is compulsorily provided a solar pump,” he added.





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