Nagpur/Mumbai: Union Power Minister (Independent Charge) Piyush Goyal on Saturday said that the Central Government will provide hefty financial assistance to farmers in Maharashtra for solar power supply and installing energy efficient agriculture pumps. A proposal in this regard should be sent by Maharashtra Government immediately. “If every farmers is given a plan on micro irrigation, solar power supply and energy efficient pumps, it will prove to be an ideal plan. Maharashtra should take lead and implement the plan. The Central Government provide sufficient financial assistance for this initiative,” Goyal said.

The Union Power Minister was speaking in a high level meeting held at official residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and senior officials of Energy Department, Finance Department were present at the meeting.

Goyal further said that Central Government has undertaken a comprehensive project for making available energy efficient agriculture pumps to farmers. The pumps have features like smart meter, flow meter. These features help in saving electricity, wastage of water and time, too. The Central Government is extending financial assistance to states in the form of loans. Maharashtra should also take benefit of this scheme and draw a plan for making available solar power supply, micro irrigation and energy efficient pumps to farmers. This move will also provide relief to farmers in many ways, Goyal said.