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Hooda for higher subsidy for solar pumps

Farmers approach HAREDA for these pumps

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has urged the Central Government to continue the implementation of solar photovoltaic water pumping programme with higher level of Central subsidy.

He also asked the Government to allocate a target of installing 400 more such pumps during the current financial year so that the farmers get the benefit of this technology in its true perspective.

In a letter to the Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttamwar, the Chief Minister said that 393 solar pumps had so far been installed in the State during the last three years from 2000-01 as per the guidelines and administrative approval of his Ministry.

The State Government had provided additional matching subsidy of Rs 40,000 per pump so that more small farmers having a land holding of two to three acres might purchase these pumps to meet their irrigation needs.

While drawing the attention of the Union Minister towards the reduction in the amount of Central Financial Assistance from Rs 135 per watt to Rs 100 per watt, Mr Hooda said that it had resulted in the increase in the contribution of the farmers from Rs. 40,500 to Rs. 1,03,500 for the purchase of such pumps.

As a result of this increase, he said, the farmers were not able to purchase the pumps and the state could not implement this programme during the year 2004-05.

A large number of farmers had submitted their applications with the Haryana State Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) for installation of these pumps.

Mr Hooda urged the Centre that a target for installation of 400 solar pumps during the year 2005-06 be allocated to Haryana under this programme.

He said that the solar photovoltaic water pumping programme was gaining popularity among the farmers. The promotion of this programme would help in saving high cost diesel and help in checking global warming.- UNI

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