North News
Chandigarh, December 7
The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will install 2,356 solar-powered pumps to promote sustainable agriculture in the state, New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora announced today. The pumps will be installed within the next four months.
A subsidy of 60% will be provided to general category farmers, while Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers will receive 80% assistance for pumps with capacities ranging from 3 to 10 horsepower. The initiative is particularly focused on dark zones (over-exploited groundwater blocks), where pumps will be installed for farmers who already have micro-irrigation systems, such as drip or sprinkler setups.
Arora emphasized that the solar pumps, which operate during the day, will eliminate the need for nighttime irrigation, cutting fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions, thereby fostering a greener farming practice. He also directed PEDA to expand efforts to install more solar pumps for farmers’ welfare.
