Budget2020: KUSUM solar power pumps scheme to be expanded
New Delhi: As part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s strategy to double farmers’ income by 2022 and further burnish India’s green energy credentials, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) will be expanded to provide 2 million additional farmers with standalone solar pumps.
Under the scheme, surplus electricity generated by farmers will be bought by state electricity distribution companies (discoms) to help boost the country’s emerging green economy. According to the earlier plan of the scheme, announced in February 2018 budget, around 1.75 million off-grid agricultural solar pumps were to be covered initially.
In addition, 1.5 million farmers will get help to shift to solar power pumps from grid-connected pump sets.
