The delay in the launch of the solar irrigation pump scheme which the Centre announced in the previous Budget has left States like Bihar with no option but increase diesel subsidy offered to their farmers.
The Nitish Kumar-government in Bihar received nearly 23 lakh applications for diesel subsidy from farmers in the current rabi season, which is more than those received in the previous seasons. This is because Bihar is currently reeling under a major drought in which 280 of the 534 blocks in the State are affected.
In October last year, in view of the drought, the Bihar government decided to enhance the diesel subsidy for five rounds of irrigation as compared to three rounds earlier. The increase in subsidy comes in light of KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan), the Centre’s solar pump distribution scheme, taking longer to kick off.
