The Parliamentary Estimates Committee, led by Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Member of Parliament, visited the Sunmaster Agrivoltaics Plant located in Issapur, Najafgarh, Delhi. The field visit was organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW). The purpose of the visit was to review the progress of two major government schemes—PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
The visit allowed Members of Parliament and senior officials to observe the agrivoltaics technology in practice. Agrivoltaics refers to the dual use of land for solar power generation and agricultural activities, helping to improve land productivity and increase income for farmers. The delegation was welcomed by Shri Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary at MNRE, who gave a detailed briefing on the PM-KUSUM scheme. He explained how the initiative is focused on delivering clean and affordable energy to farmers while supporting both energy and food security.
During the visit, a comparison was made between traditional ground-mounted solar systems and the stilt-based agrivoltaics model. The latter was shown to be more cost-effective and better suited for efficient land use. These features support the PM-KUSUM scheme’s goals of improving sustainability in agriculture.
The Committee members had direct interactions with local farmers, gaining a real-world understanding of how solar energy has helped improve their lives and livelihoods. They discussed the economic and practical benefits of using solar systems in farming and irrigation.
As part of the visit, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal and the other members also joined a tree plantation activity under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative. To further engage with the farming community, they participated in a tractor ride with the local farmers.
Dr. Jaiswal appreciated the efforts made by MNRE and its partners in implementing these schemes. He highlighted the potential of agrivoltaics in transforming rural India and recommended conducting further research to assess its scalability. The visit showcased the government’s continued focus on integrating clean energy with rural development.
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