Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, on Saturday urged farmers who have benefited from solar agricultural pumps to encourage others to adopt the scheme. He was interacting with beneficiaries of the PM-KUSUM Component B and the state’s ‘Magel Tyala Saur Krishi Pump’ scheme at the MSETCL auditorium.
Sarangi, along with minister Atul Save and senior officials, reviewed the impact of solar pumps on cropping patterns and farm incomes. Farmers from Sambhajinagar, Jalna and Beed said the shift from diesel to solar pumps has saved Rs 700–800 daily and enabled cultivation of cash crops due to reliable daytime power. Beneficiary Sachin Joshi said the installation allowed him to diversify into fruits and vegetables, significantly raising his income. Sarangi praised Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited for transparent implementation. He also announced the upcoming agri-photovoltaic initiative under PM-KUSUM, enabling crop cultivation beneath elevated solar panels. The delegation later inspected a 6 MW solar feeder project at Varkhedi in Sillod taluka and a beneficiary’s farm in Phulambri.