Ramanagara: ‘Soorya Raitha’, the ambitious project of the state government to provide continuous electricity to the pump sets of farmers by producing solar energy in their own field, was inaugurated on Friday, January 19.

On a practical basis, the farmers of 11 villages with 310 bore wells in the Harobele feeder (Ramanagara district) were selected for this project. The solar energy units were installed in 250 fields in coordination with BESCOM and power has been generated this way since one year. Along with self-reliance, they sold around 4 lakh units to the company.

Under the project, 5 HP and 7.5 HP capacity units would be placed in the land of a beneficiary. The solar power is stored in a solar inverter which is later converted into electricity. There will be two connections from the inverter-one to the pump set and the one to the BESCOM power line.

With this, farmers get continuous supply of electricity to their pump sets and also get money for the solar power sold to BESCOM. A 5 HP capacity unit costs Rs 7.13 Lakh and a 7.5 HP unit costs Rs 9.43 Lakh. Along with the government subsidy, one part of the cost will be paid by the farmers.

Banks provide 80 percent of the project cost as a loan to the farmers without any interest, with the assurance of BESCOM. The government has spent Rs 24.36 Crore for the project till date.

There will be a 25-year MoU between the farmers and BESCOM for the purchase of electricity. The company has fixed Rs 7.20 per unit. The loan amount of the farmers will be subtracted from the amount. However, the company gives Rs 0.30 of supportive price to the farmers. BESCOM has formed the “Soorya Raitha” agriculture electricity users’ association for the maintenance of the project, which is later converted into electricity. There will be two connections from the inverter- one to the pump set and the one to the BESCOM power line.

With this, farmers get continuous supply of electricity to their pump sets and also get money for the solar power sold to BESCOM. A 5 HP capacity unit costs Rs 7.13 lakh and a 7.5 HP unit costs Rs.9.43 lakh. Along with the government subsidy, one part of the cost will be paid by the farmers. Banks provide 80% of the project cost as a loan to the farmers without any interest, with the assurance of BESCOM. The government has spent Rs 24.36 crores for the project till date.

There will be a 25 year MoU between the farmers and BESCOM for the purchase of electricity. The company has fixed Rs 7.20 per unit. The loan amount of the farmers will be subtracted from the amount. However, the company gives Rs 0.30 of supportive price to the farmers. BESCOM has formed the “Soorya Raitha” agriculture electricity users’ association for the maintenance of the project.