Nashik MSEDCL Installs 1840 Solar Power Pumps For Farmers

The Nashik division of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has installed 1,840 solar power pumps to enable the farmers to pump out groundwater during the daytime.

The solar pumps have been allotted to the farmers, who paid for the new connections but did not receive it.

The solar pumps were sanctioned through central government’s Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana and state government’s Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Pump Yojana in which the farmers had to pay less than 10 percent of the total costs of the pump. The same was also warranted for a period of five years.

Out of the total 1,840 solar pumps allotted, 1049 pumps were installed in Nashik, 195 pumps in Malegaon while 596 pumps in Ahmednagar circle.

The MSEDCL officers further pointed out that the Nashik circle had large numbers of farmers and the land was also well irrigated, while the Malegaon circle was largely dry. The Ahmednagar district is vast in terms of geographical dimensions, but even this region falls in the rain shadow region and hence the demand for the pumps was limited.

The solar pumps ensure the farmers do not have to rely on the power supply, especially in the backdrop of the power-sharing issue. “There is a regular complaint of the farmers about the lack of voltage, or the power supply disruption due to failed transformer, have to wait for a couple of days before the transformer is reinstated. The worst part is that the farmers are forced to water their plants in the night – which happens turn-by-turn,” the MSEDCL officer said.

With solar power the farmers get the power in the day time and get assured supply as well. The farmers do not have to worry about the failed transformers and also about the maintenance of the solar power pumps for the first five years.