Latest news with #PMKusum
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
CESC plans to produce solar power for irrigation pumpsets in Mysuru
Mysuru: Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) plans to produce 172.8 megawatts (MW) of solar power to power irrigation pumpsets in Mysuru district. The power corporation has taken up this project as part of the solarisation of the agriculture feeder line in the district under the PM Kusum scheme and to promote green energy. CESC plans to supply uninterrupted three-phase power to irrigation pumpsets during the day by generating solar electricity. The CESC also started the establishment of solar plants at Periyapatna for the generation of electricity. The state govt is funding 50% of the project, while the Union govt is contributing 30%, with the remaining 20% provided by CESC. It plans to set up these plants in the existing power distribution centres to connect to the grid after generating power from these plants. CESC plans to establish 33 solar power plants across the district. The state govt already entered into an agreement with a private agency for the establishment of these plants. CESC has initiated the production of 36.9 megawatts of solar power in Mysuru taluk, followed by Nanjangud (15.4 MW), T Narasipura (19.7 MW), Hunsur (36.7 MW), HD Kote (10.1 MW), Saragur (7.8 MW), Saligrama (3 MW), and Periyapatna (43.2 MW). Among these, CESC laid the foundation stone for the establishment of a solar plant for the production of 43.2 MW of solar power in Periyapatna to power irrigation pumpsets of these taluks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Ultimate Options Selling Strategy - Master the markets TradeWise Learn More Undo About 5 to 40 acres is needed to set up each plant. CESC has been searching for land and has also asked farmers to provide land for a 25-year lease. CESC will provide Rs 25,000 per acre of leased land for farmers, along with increasing 5% incentives every 2 years. It will spend Rs 4 crore for the production of 1MW of solar power by the establishment of solar power plants. CESC has been searching for the availability of both govt and private land to set up these plants. It will be helpful to the CESC if farmers come forward to provide land on a lease basis for 25 years near the agriculture feeder line power distribution centre it has set up already in various taluks to connect easily to the power grid. Speaking to TOI, CESC managing director KM Munigopala Raju said it plans to produce 172.8 MW of solar power to power IP sets by establishing solar power plants in Mysuru district. It laid the foundation for the production of 43 MW of solar power in Periyapatna taluk and has already started the process of identifying both govt and private land for the establishment of power plants in the remaining taluks of the district. "The establishment of these plants will benefit the farmers as it will ensure an uninterrupted power supply of seven hours during the day. It also avoids farmers venturing out to agricultural fields during night hours, fearing wild animal menace in the district," he said. "As such schemes benefit the farmers, they must also come forward to provide land besides CESC stepping up the process of establishing such plants in the district," State Sugarcane Growers Association vice-president Attahalli Devaraj told TOI.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ramesh Chennithala alleges massive irregularities in Anert solar projects, demands audit and probe by Assembly panel
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has alleged massive irregularities in the implementation of solar power projects by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (Anert) for the Smart City project in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Chennithala has demanded a forensic audit of Anert's finances over the past five years and a simultaneous probe by a committee of the Kerala State Legislative Assembly, which he said were essential to unearth the corruption. Irregularities were rampant in the solar projects implemented by Anert for the fully centrally-funded Thiruvananthapuram Smart City project, he said. He cited instances where price differences of as much as 50% have occurred in the implementation of solar power projects of comparable capacity through different private firms. While it cost ₹38.39 lakh for implementing a 60 kW solar project at the Directorate of Technical Education, a 60 kW project implemented eight months later at the Institute of Land and Disaster Management cost only ₹25.2 lakh, a difference of ₹13.19 lakh, he alleged. Similarly, a 50 kW project was implemented at the Public Works Department at Vikas Bhavan at a cost of ₹33.31 lakh. But a 50 kW system deployed at the Directorate of Backward Classes cost only ₹19.06 lakh, the difference ₹14.25 lakh. Anert has implemented 514 projects over the past two years for the Smart City project, Mr. Chennithala said. These financial discrepancies are also clearly visible in the implementation of the installation of solar pumps under the PM KUSUM scheme, Mr. Chennithala said. While a 10 kW solar plant was installed at the Family Health Centre, Vizhinjam with a guarantee period of ten years, at a cost of ₹4.99 lakh, a 10 kW solar rooftop model under PM KUSUM costs ₹7.13 lakh. In the second instance, the warranty is for seven years. Irregularities in appointments Mr. Chennithala also alleged irregularities in certain appointments linked to Anert. A former executive assistant of Anert CEO Narendra Nath Veluri was employed by a major consultant of Anert at a very high salary, but was reassigned to Anert on deputation the very next day. Presenting documents, Mr. Chennithala said that the officer had left Anert on April 4, 2025, but was deployed as part of the consultant's team in Anert on April 5, which he claimed was highly unethical and suspicious. Mr. Chennithala has accused Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty and the Anert CEO of having a hand in the irregularities. Mr. Chennithala has demanded a clarification from the Minister on his allegations. Mr. Krishnankutty was not available for comment on Mr. Chennithala's charges. Earlier this month, Mr. Chennithala had demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the ₹240 crore tender for the installation of solar pumps under the PM Kusum scheme.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
State energy dept plans to scrap annuity model in solar projects
1 2 Jaipur: State govt is planning to scrap 4,000 MW solar projects planned under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for solarising agriculture connections. In a recent meeting, energy minister Heeralal Nagar sought opinions about the efficacy of this model in the solar sector after a few stakeholders raised concerns. Officials present in the meeting said many questioned the logic of introducing HAM in the power sector where there is an assured income. HAM is widely used in the road sector where the toll revenue is uncertain during the initial years. They said risks and returns are usually managed through tariff-based competitive bidding, not annuities. Also, cash flow in power projects is predictable, especially in renewable energy. Under the HAM model, the govt provides investors 30% of the cost upfront and the rest in seven installments over seven years. After seven years, the projects are transferred to the govt. However, most of the projects under the PM Kusum scheme, intended for solarising the agriculture sector, are set up by the private sector, and the power is supplied at a pre-determined rate of around Rs 3. In these projects, the govt neither invests nor owns the projects but gets power as per the power purchase agreement with them. "Power project developers are very keen on investing under the HAM model, and the track record of the govt in payment is not very good," said an industry representative. According to sources, while the energy department has initiated the process to cancel the 4,000 MW project, it will go ahead with the 1,000 MW rooftop projects for govt buildings tendered under HAM. Another industry expert said that when the officials change, the payment to developers under the HAM can become difficult. "There is scope for interference and misinterpretation of certain works involved in the projects, and invariably the payments become the tool to harass the developers," he said.
