Uttarakhand Government keen to boost economic activities through solar farming

Good news for farmers of the remote villages and migrants returning to the mountainous regions of the state due to the Corona pandemic. Now they can generate electricity from the solar plant and sell it to the Energy Corporation and can earn a substantial income. In addition, the electricity produced from solar farming will relieve the distress of power in remote mountainous areas.

The Government of Uttarakhand has given the gift of Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme during the Corona crisis. Through this scheme, the government has provided self-employment opportunities in the barren farming lands in the hill areas. This will prevent increasing migration in the border and mountainous regions. Energy Secretary Radhika Jha said that solar farming will provide self-employment to enterprising youth, rural unemployed and farmers. This scheme will be implemented in the entire state, that is, its benefit is not going to be limited to the region.

Target to set up 10 thousand plants

Under the scheme, 25 kW solar power plants can be set up. Under the scheme, a target has been set to allocate projects to 10 thousand persons. Year wise targets will be decided with the consent of MSME and Finance Department. It is mandatory for the beneficiary to be a permanent citizen of the state. The scheme will be operated through Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency ie UREDA. In this, the Energy Corporation and State Cooperative Banks will play the role of cooperative institutions.

Energy Corporation to install 63 KVA transformer

To connect the solar energy produced under the scheme to the grid, the Energy Corporation will install transformers of 63 KVA and above capacity. Through these transformers, solar power plants will be allocated up to a distance of 300 meters in hilly areas and 100 meters in the plains. This will generate electricity throughout the year.

Highlights of CM Solar Self-Employment Scheme

• In this scheme only solar power plants of 25 kW capacity will be approved.
• Permanent residents of the state can set up solar power plants by taking land on their own or on lease.
• Eligible persons can apply under the scheme through online portal
• One person will be allocated only one solar power plant
• Entrepreneurial youth, rural unemployed, farmers who are more than 18 years of age, will be eligible
• For a solar plant of 25 KW capacity, one and a half to two drains i.e. 300 sqm of land is required
• The plan will be implemented through Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency

Total expenditure and subsidy on the scheme

• The total cost will be about 10 lakhs at the rate of 40 thousand per kwh on solar power plant of 25 kW capacity.
• The beneficiary will get 70 percent of the total cost of the plant as a loan, the remaining 30 percent will be borne by the concerned beneficiary as margin money.
• Selected beneficiaries will get margin money grant and other benefits in the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme operated by the Department of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises
• The State and District Cooperative Bank will provide loan to the selected beneficiaries on the basis of permissibility at 8 percent interest.
• The cooperative bank will provide loans under this scheme for a period of 15 years.
• The beneficiaries will not have to bother for the land conversion of their land, stamp duty will be waived for holding the land as mortgage.
• The project will be allocated at the district level by a committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Collector.