@CCMS Bureau
Rajasthan government recently launched the Saur Krishi Aajeevika Yojana (SKAY) scheme portal to facilitate farmers to install solar plants on their barren or underutilized land.
Under the (SKAY) scheme, farmers can give their barren land on lease to set up solar plants, which would help them elevate their living standards. The new online portal will be a platform where farmers and landowners can register their land to give on lease.
While talking to media during the launch, state power minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati said, “The portal will act as a bridge to connect farmers and companies setting up solar plants in the state. There will be an integrated information centre having schemes of both the Centres and the state government”. After the launch, farmers can upload land details on the portal from where the companies can examine the data and approach them to set up a solar energy plant in accordance with the rules.
As Rajasthan’s solar generation potential has been assessed at 142 GW. After launching the scheme, the state government is eyeing at a target of target of 30 GW by 2024- 25. The aim is to increase solar- energy generation and make Rajasthan a green energy state.
The state government claims a full proof system has been established to safeguard the rights and assured landowners to participate in the scheme.
Bhaskar Sawant, chairman of discoms and CMD of Rajasthan State Vidhyut Prasarant Nigam Ltd and MD of Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd said, “If a developer fail to pay the lease amount to the farmer, the government power agencies hold their payments and first pay it to the farmers.”
The land developer, with the SKAY, can also be benefited in several ways including procurement of central subsidy under the PM Kusum Yojana (30 % of the cost). The state government will arrange a tripartite agreement between the land- owner/farmer, developer and the discom/power company concerned so that it is ensured that risk protection is provided to the landowner/farmer.
