The state government in Gujarat has decided to increase the supply of electricity for agriculture purposes — from eight hours to 10 hours per day — in parts of Saurashtra and Kutch to save groundnut and other crops, said Energy Minister Kanu Desai on Wednesday.
As per an official release, the decision has been taken for the farmers of eight talukas of Saurashtra and Kutch district to save their crops in the current season. The eight talukas of Saurashtra are Jam Jodhpur, Lalpur, Manavadar, Vanthli, Mendarda, Keshod, Mangrol and Maliya Hatina.
Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), the discom for the region, has been instructed to implement the decision, the release added.
The release also stated that power demand and power consumption of PGVCL for agriculture and other purposes has increased a lot in the current month on September 23, if compared to last month on August 28.
The release also stated that on August 27, the maximum power demand and power consumption of Gujarat was 12157 MW and 269 million units respectively; and on September 23, it has gone up to 24205 MW and 493 million units respectively.
In another decision taken by the state government, Desai also announced that now onwards small industry and medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) can develop solar energy park, wind energy park and hybrid energy park. As any developer can develop solar, wind or hybrid power project, they can also transfer or sale the generated power to other industries, officials added.
This decision will prove important in taking India’s and Gujarat’s renewable energy capacity to 500 GW and 100 GW respectively by 2030.
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