Maharashtra farmers to get Rs 1.25L rent for land leased to set up solar feeders: Fadnavis

The Cabinet also decided that after completion of 30 years of lease agreement, the land will be returned to the farmer. The land title will always remain with farmers.

“Maharashtra is the first state which has decided to shift to solar-powered agriculture. And it has introduced the land lease model which will help farmers to earn sustained income and also retain its land title,” Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

The government aims to reduce the the cost of electricity generation by introducing solar power in agriculture sector.

“At present, the rate of electricity per unit is Rs 7. When we have solar energy it will cost to Rs 3.30 per unit,” Fadnavis said.

According to the Cabinet decision, the subsidized power for farmers — at Rs 1.50 per unit — will continue.

However, the state government has to incur the financial burden to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore. It partly recovers the amount from cross-subsidy by charging higher power supply tariffs from industries and domestic users.

The state government will claim private land within 5 km of agriculture feeders for solar power wherever necessary. And in the case of government land, it will be up to 10 km around agriculture feeders, Fadnavis said.

The deputy chief minister, who also holds energy portfolio, said the government is committed to providing 24×7 power to farmers.

At present, the power supply to the agriculture sector is coal-based. In rural areas, power outages often hinder agricultural activities during day time. As a result, farmers are forced to take to field to work during the night.

Promotion reservation policy for disabled to be implemented in state as per Centre’s rule

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday decided to apply 4 per cent reservation for promotion for disabled employees in the state as per the Central government’s rule.

As per an order of the Central government on May 17, 2022, reservation in promotion will be implemented in the state for disabled employees from Group-D to Group-A lower level. “The total reservation will be 4 per cent according to different types of disability. There will be reservation in promotion for persons with disabilities in those cadres in which the proportion of recruitment through direct service is not more than 75 percent. All other government departments have been informed about the decision,” said an official. —Express News Service