Mumbai :-State has witnessed transition from farmers waiting for years to get grid connection for agriculture pumps to getting pumps on demand thanks to Solar Agriculture Pump on Demand (SAPD) scheme of the state government. A scheme will be launched to facilitate additional income to farmers by selling surplus power generated in their solar pump sets, said Deputy Chief Minister as well as Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday in Mumbai.
He was speaking after inaugurating a registration website for farmers for SAPD scheme developed by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). He also published a booklet about the scheme and its poster.
Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Abha Shukla, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of MSEDCL Lokesh Chandra, CMD of Mahagenco Dr. P. Anbalgan, CMD of Mahatransco Sanjeevkumar and independent director of MSEB Holding Company Vishwas Pathak were present on this occasion. 
Devendra Fadnavis said that a scheme will be launched so that surplus power generated in solar panels of agriculture pumps can be sent to grid and be sold to power companies so that farmers will get additional income. Thus, farmers will be earning money by selling power instead of paying power bills.
He said that before 2014, there was serious problem of paid pending. After that during his government emphasis was given on giving power connections to farmers. Now thanks to SAPD, farmers are getting agriculture pumps on demand with 90 percent subsidy. Due to solar pumps, farmers are getting day time quality power supply. They won’t be required to pay bills for next 25 years as there will be solar power generation for that period. If we consider 7.5 HP pumps then concerned farmer will save Rs. 1 million in 25 year period. This scheme is implemented on the basis of PM Kusum B scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi. “I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi.”
He said that under Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0, agreements for 12,000 MW have been done and works have started. Power generation will start from those projects with full capacity in next two years. Hence farmers will get 100 percent solar energy for irrigation. Apart from farmers getting green energy, a lot of funds for subsidy and cross subsidy will be saved.
He said that tenure in last two and a half years have been a turning point for energy sector in the state. All three public power companies have played major role in this.
DCM communicated with beneficiary farmers via video conferencing on this occasion. He expressed satisfaction about farmers being happy about implementation of the scheme.
CMD Lokesh Chandra welcomed guests. He said that under leadership of DCM there has been emphasis on using renewable energy for farmers in last two and a half year. At one point of time there were 8.5 lakh farmers waiting for power connection but now number of paid pending cases is negligible. Now paid pending problem will become history due to SAPD. Under this scheme, one million agriculture solar pumps will be installed in the state. After the scheme was launched two lakh famers have registered and paid their share and out of them pumps have been installed in farms of 45,000 farmers in last six months and it is a record. Maharashtra is on number one position in the country regarding installation of solar pumps.
MSEDCL director (projects) Prasad Reshme proposed vote of thanks.
