The Maharashtra government has allocated Rs 100 billion for the Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Feeder Program 2.0. The aim of the programme is to provide round-the-clock electricity supply to agricultural pumps in Maharashtra. The programme also aims to increase solar energy capacity to 16,000 MW. Of this, 9,000 MW will be allotted to solar projects and the remaining to decentralised solar capacity by 2025.
Financial assistance up to 30 per cent will be provided by the state for solar power generation capacity. Various incentives have also been set aside for improvement of electricity infrastructure. Financial assistance and support to gram panchayats will also be given. These initiatives have been given a fund of Rs 28.91 billion. This includes Rs 7.02 billion approved for 2024-25. A free electricity program for farmers with an annual fund of Rs 147.61 billion has also been launched.
