Chhattisgarh government to provide solar water pumps in naxalite areas

The government of Chhattisgarh is planning to provide water using solar water pumps in about 1,700 non-electrified village settlements spread over 10 naxal affected districts of the state.

A state level meeting which reviewed drinking water supply schemes has finalised the plan.

IAP (Integrated Action Plan) which is central sponsor scheme currently is operating in naxal districts. Huge funds are provided for developing infrastructure under the scheme. As per information given on the planning commission’s website, “The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts under the BRGF programme will covers 82 districts. The IAP has been implemented (2010-13) with a block grant of Rs.25 crore and Rs.30 crore per district during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively.”

Rs 20 crore for providing solar pumps in the remote villages of Bastar, Kanker, Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sarguja, Jashpur, Kabirdham and Rajnandgaon districts has been sanctioned by the centre.

MNRE offers subsidy on solar water pumps to encourage its use. Read more about various subsidy schemes of MNRE here.

Solar water pumping systems are used in India for fulfilling irrigation and drinking water needs. The advantage is that no fuel or electricity is required, which in turn results in lower costs of operation.

Under Phase II of JNNSM, target for deployment of 25000 solar pumps by the end of FY 2017 has been envisaged.

Reference and further reading;

TOI

Read more on Solar technologies

Read more Integrated Action Plan

Image Credit