Question : PM-KUSUM

(a) the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM);
(b) the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised in Rajasthan under the said scheme during the last three years and the current year;
(c) the details of standalone solar pumps distributed along with the targets set and achievements made thereunder till date in Rajasthan during the said period;
(d) whether the Government proposes to make any changes therein or expand the said scheme and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government has made any provision in the said scheme for the farmers belonging to the Scheduled Castes; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the time by which it is likely to be done?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) The Ministry of New and Renewable energy (MNRE) launched Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) on 8.3.2019, which has following three components:

(i) Component-A: installation of 10,000 MW capacity through small renewable energy based power plants each of capacity up to 2 MW on the barren/fallow land of the farmers;
(ii) Component-B: installation of 17.5 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps; and
(iii) Component-C: solarization of 10 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps.

Under the Scheme a total of 25750 MW of renewable power capacity will be created by 2022 with total Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs. 34,422 crore including the service charges to the implementing agencies.




The CFA under the three components of the Scheme will be provided as under:

(i) Component A: Procurement Based Incentive (PBI) @ 40 paise/kWh or Rs. 6.60 lakhs/MW/year to DISCOMs for 5 years, for buying the Renewable Energy (RE) power.
(ii) Component B & C: CFA upto 30% of the benchmark cost or tender cost, whichever is lower, will be provided. The State Government will also provide equal subsidy or higher. For North Eastern states including Sikkim; states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh; and island UTs of Lakshadweep and A&N Islands higher CFA of 50% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, will be provided.

(b) & (c) PM-KUSUM Scheme launched on 8.3.2019 is demand driven and based on demand received from the state of Rajasthan following capacities have been sanctioned to the state under the three components of the Scheme during 2019-20:

(i) Component-A: setting-up of total 325 MW of small renewable energy based power plants;
(ii) Component-B: installation of 25,000 standalone off-grid solar water pumps; and
(iii) Component-C: solarization of 12,500 of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps.

The disbursement of CFA is liked with progress of implementation of the Scheme. The Horticulture Department of Rajasthan which is the implementing agency for installation of sanctioned 25000 numbers of standalone solar pumps has issued letter of award to the empaneled vendors on 13.02.2020 and as per Scheme Guidelines MNRE has released advance CFA of Rs. 68.98 crore to Horticulture Department of Rajasthan on 29.02.2020.

(d) Considering that the PM-KUSUM scheme aims at enhancing farmers income and energy independence, in the Budget for 2020-21, the Government has announced expansion of the Scheme to provide central financial support for providing 20 lakh standalone solar pumps and solarize another 15 lakh grid-connected pumps.

(e) & (f) The Scheme is open for all category of beneficiaries including for farmers belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

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