Renewable energy department faces a delay in acquiring solar pumps under PM-Kusum scheme

The district’s renewable energy department has been facing a delay in acquiring solar water pumps to be installed in agriculture fields under the PM-Kusum (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) scheme according to officials.

The department’s target is to install 340 pumps by March next year. However, the department has been able to install only five pumps till now, despite the fact that 312 farmers have already deposited money to get solar pumps installed.

Officials said that due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the production of solar-based water pumps has been affected. It is taking companies almost three months to supply the pump sets. Based on the work order placed by the renewable energy department, companies selected by the central government supply solar pumps to the state. “Industrial operations got affected due to Covid-19. As such, there has been a delay in receiving the pumps. It is taking more than 90 days to receive the supply of pumps for installation,” said Rameshwar Singh, district project officer.