Delhi Government launches new solar scheme to increase farmers’ income

The state cabinet of Delhi on July 24, 2018 approved a scheme under which farmers in the national capital will be able to lease out a part of their agricultural land for setting up of solar panels to get additional income.

The scheme - 'Mukhyanmantri Kissan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna’ was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by the state’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.

Key Highlights

• Under the scheme, any farmer can rent out not more than one-third of his land to a private firm to set up solar panels at a rate of Rs one lakh per annum per acre.

• The scheme will start in nine months and at least five solar companies have evinced interest.

• The panels will be set up at a height of 3.5 metres, so that the land can also be used for agriculture.

• The annual income of the beneficiary farmers, which is estimated at present to be between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 per acre per year, will increase to between Rs 1.30 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh following the implementation of this scheme.

• Besides getting additional income, the farmers will also get 1,000 units of free solar power without any investment.

Other Details

The Delhi Government departments will buy solar power from the companies participating in the scheme.

The departments currently buy electricity at Rs 9 per unit but with the implementation of the scheme, the expense will come down to Rs 5 per unit, saving the department Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore annually.

The Delhi government plans to generate 2,000 MW in solar energy by 2025.

Read More Current Affairs