The Central Government has approved Rs 43 crore for purchase of 3,000 solar pumps in Chhattisgarh for irrigation purposes. The Central Government has prepared a special package to encourage use of solar energy across the country. In the Union budget, a provision has been made for the installation of more than one lakh solar pumps across the country.
It was learnt that Union Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari appreciated the work on large number of solar pumps installed in the State by Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). Chief Minister Raman Singh and Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Aman Kumar Singh were also present in the meeting.
So far, CREDA has installed 2570 solar pumps in the State in a single year, it was learnt. Notably, on July 1 this year, the State government had decided to install as many as 300 solar water pumps in forest areas to make water supply available for forest dwellers as well as wild animals. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur. The solar pumps will be used to fill the reservoirs and dams situated in forest areas with water.