KUSUM

The government is likely to extend the deadline for the PM-KUSUM scheme once again, as two major components of the initiative have failed to achieve even 50 per cent of their targets, an official source said. Launched in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aimed to add a solar capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022, with a total central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore, including service charges for implementing agencies. Later, the Centre extended the PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026, as its implementation was significantly affected due to the pandemic, and also revised upwards the target to 34,800 MW. According to an official source, the deadline for the implementation of PM KUSUM is likely to be extended further to ensure the envisaged targets are achieved. This will be the second extension to the scheme. As per official data, none of the components of the ambitious scheme have achieved 100 per cent target. Although component B of the sche

The second phase is likely to match or exceed Phase 1's scale, with possible additions like agrovoltaics and minor guideline revisions

Infrastructure company MEIL on Saturday said it has commissioned five solar plants in Maharashtra having a combined capacity of 19 megawatt (MW). The plants were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) said in a statement. "MEIL has commissioned five solar power plants with a total capacity of 19 MW under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) scheme across Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Solar Plants and Dedicated to the Nation," it said. The five solar plants are at Shambhaji Nagar (3 MW), Nanded (5MW), Kolhapur (3MW), Akola (3MW), and Buldhana (5 MW) in Maharashtra. These power generated from green plants will provide uninterrupted electricity to farmers for the cultivation of their lands that will reduce the burden of cost of electricity bills. The excess power will be supplied to the grid. As part of the PM-KUSUM scheme, MEIL said it has to execute the

Scheme likely to go off-Budget as targets linked to discom reforms

In Chhattisgarh, traditionally lac is cultivated with nearly 50,000 farmers rearing it on kusum and plum trees and rangini lac on palash and plum trees

Mention of clean air in the Budget indicates that some sort of priority is accorded to it

The Finance Ministry has reportedly asked the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy rework funding plans