Telangana Chief Minister Initiates Indira Soura Giri Irrigation Development: Complimentary Solar Pump Program for Indigenous Agriculturists
Telangana Government Launches Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam Scheme to Empower Tribal Farmers
The Telangana government has announced a new initiative, the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme, aimed at empowering tribal farmers by providing free solar-powered pump sets for irrigation. This scheme is part of a broader developmental vision for tribal communities in the state.
The scheme, launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Macharam village, is expected to transform the lives of tribal farmers by offering solar pumps, sprinklers, and drip irrigation equipment at no cost. This will facilitate improved water management and boost agricultural productivity, supporting sustainable agriculture on tribal lands.
The Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is estimated to receive a funding of Rs 12,600 crore over three years. In the first year, Rs 600 crore will be allocated to irrigate 27,000 acres, benefiting 10,000 farmers. The state government will fund the entire project, with a total financial outlay of Rs 13,200 crore.
The scheme is designed to directly address irrigation challenges faced by tribal farmers. By offering solar pumps, it reduces dependence on erratic power supply and expensive fuel, thus lowering costs and improving reliability in water availability for agriculture. This initiative aligns with Telangana’s broader goals of sustainable development and economic upliftment of marginalized tribal farmers by enabling year-round farming and increasing crop yields.
The solar pumps will range from 5 to 7.5 horsepower and will be used for horticultural crops. The plans for solar power plants are aimed at contributing to the state's renewable energy goals and generating additional income for women's self-help groups. The pilot project covers 45 acres and benefits 45 tribal families in Macharam village.
In addition to the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme, the Deputy Chief Minister has emphasized the protection of tribal agricultural lands from unnecessary intrusion by police or forest officials, underscoring the government's commitment to ensuring the scheme’s success without disruption to the farmers’ land rights and cultivation activities.
It's important to note that the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is not mentioned in the 'Nallamala Declaration', which outlines various developmental initiatives for tribal communities. However, the scheme is a significant part of the state's focus on enhancing irrigation infrastructure using renewable energy sources to benefit rural and tribal communities in Telangana.
There is a related scheme, the PM-KUSUM scheme, offering 75% subsidy to install solar pumps. This initiative, along with the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme, is expected to add significant solar capacity to the state. In the year 2020-21, around 15,000 solar pumps installed under various schemes added about 105 MW of solar capacity to the state.
The Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme targets 2.1 lakh tribal farmers and aims to bring irrigation facilities to six lakh acres of Rights of Forest Records (RoFR) land over five years. This ambitious initiative is a testament to the Telangana government's commitment to the sustainable development and economic upliftment of tribal communities.
[1] Telangana Today [2] The Hindu
- Despite the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme focusing on empowering tribal farmers through improved irrigation, it is not mentioned in the Nallamala Declaration, which covers various developmental initiatives for tribal communities.
- The Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme and the PM-KUSUM scheme, aimed at providing solar-powered pump sets, are expected to boost sports such as horticulture, contributing to the state's renewable energy goals and generating additional income for women's self-help groups.
