August 19, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament from Punjab demanded that 10+ Horse Power Solar Pumps be included under the PM-KUSUM Scheme. At present, pumps of only up to 7.5 HP are provided to farmers, which he said is “not workable in Punjab where underground water utilisation is the highest in the country at 164%.”
“If farmers are given 10+ HP solar pumps, they will be able to draw irrigation water effectively, and this can significantly reduce Punjab’s rising power subsidy burden.” Dr. Sahney added
In a written reply to his question in Parliament, the Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy informed that out of 12.72 lakh solar pumps allocated across India, only 15,999 have been installed in Punjab.
Dr. Sahney stated that under the scheme, one-third of the cost is borne by the Centre, one-third by the State, and the farmer pays the balance. “The challenge is that the pumps given under the scheme are DCR models which are far more expensive compared to Chinese solar pumps available in the open market—even without subsidy. Government must consider competitive pricing to make adoption attractive for farmers.
Dr. Sahney said that By providing farmers with higher capacity and cost-effective solar pumps, Punjab can shift a major share of irrigation from grid power to solar. This will not only ensure water sustainability but also save a significant amount of money in power subsidy, benefitting both farmers and the State exchequer.
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