Government Targets 745 MW Solar Generation Through Kusum-C Scheme: Energy Minister K J George

Bengaluru Express
Hassan, July 6: Under the Kusum-C scheme, which aims to solarise agricultural feeders and provide daytime electricity supply to farmers’ pump sets, 200 MW of electricity is already being produced. In the coming months, 545 MW of electricity will be generated, Energy Minister K.J. George said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference after the energy department’s progress review meeting of Hassan district, held on Friday at the Zilla Panchayat hall in the city, “Under the Kusum-C scheme, construction of solar units with a capacity of around 200 megawatts has already been completed. In the next few months, solar units with a capacity of 545 megawatts will be commissioned at 93 locations. This will help provide an adequate daytime electricity supply to farmers,” Energy Minister KJ George said.

“Our government has set a target of generating 2,400 megawatts of solar electricity through feeder solarisation of agricultural pump sets under the Kusum-C scheme. Recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a solar power unit established under the Kusum-C scheme in Gauribidanur. The feeder solarisation work is progressing at a rapid pace,” the Energy Minister K J George further added.

Under the Kusum-C scheme, generating 1 megawatt of electricity requires 4 acres of land. If government land is available, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed that it be allocated free of cost. However, private power producers must pay ₹25,000 per acre, which will be deposited with the district commissioner and used to improve government schools and Anganwadis in the villages where the substations are located, Energy Minister elaborated.

“If private land is used, developers awarded the power generation contracts will lease the land and pay landowners a minimum of ₹25,000 per acre,” the Energy Minister K J George said.

Energy Minister K J George further added, “Efforts are underway to ensure a reliable power supply to farmers’ pump sets. Of the 4 lakh unauthorised pump sets in the state, 3 lakh have already been regularised. For pump sets within 500 meters of power feeders, transformers will be installed by the department. Those beyond 500 meters will receive solar pump sets under the Kusum-B scheme.”

Energy Department Officials must promptly address the concerns of farmers and the general public. Rather than waiting, take the initiative to meet elected representatives, gather their feedback, and act on it. Neglecting public grievances will reflect poorly on the department. Senior officers have been instructed to take strict action, including transferring disengaged officials, the Energy Minister K J George said.

Earlier, during a progress review meeting, multiple MLAs raised issues concerning the energy department in their constituencies. In response, Energy Minister K.J. George instructed the CESC Managing Director to take swift action and reiterated that officials should proactively consult elected representatives and follow through on their suggestions.

At the outset of the meeting, CESC Managing Director K.M. Munigopal Raju reported that the Hassan district has achieved 99.86% progress under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, with ₹375.09 crore released by the government to date. He also noted that 1,225 applications remain pending under the Ganga Kalyana scheme. Additionally, the district has 1,49,031 irrigation pump (IP) connections, and 3,658 outstanding infrastructure works required for electricity provision are expected to be completed within the next three months.

He explained that under the Kusum-B scheme, a total of 1,593 applications have been registered in the Hassan district. The district has 38 electricity distribution centres across various taluks, and solar power projects are expected to generate 203.84 megawatts of electricity. However, recent rainfall has caused damage to over 1,500 electricity poles, 18 transformers, and 33 kilometres of power lines, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹2.5 crore.

The meeting was attended by Member of Parliament Shreyas Patel, MLA and Housing Board Chairman K.M. Shivalingegowda, MLAs K. Manju, Swaroop, C.N. Balakrishna, H.K. Suresh, and S. Manjunath, KPTCL Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Deputy Commissioner Lathakumari, Zilla Panchayat CEO B.R. Poornima, and several other officials.