CCEA has approved the Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme for harnessing solar power in rural areas. The scope of work under the scheme involves-
- Installation of grid-connected solar power plants with a combined capacity of 10 GW in rural areas. Each plant will have a capacity less than 2 MW.
- Installation of 1.75 million standalone off-grid solar water pumps for irrigation needs of farmers.
- Solarisation of existing one million grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply and also enable them to earn extra income by selling surplus solar power generated to the distribution companies (discoms).
The scheme aims to add solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022. Besides, the total central financial support provided under the scheme will be Rs 344.22 billion.