24 districts in Rajasthan to get electricity for irrigation during daytime

Farmers in Dausa and Karauli districts of eastern Rajasthan will get electricity for irrigation during daytime in two blocks, extending the facility to 24 districts in the State, said Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday night.

The target was set in the revised State budget for 2024-25.

Mr. Sharma said that steps were being taken to ensure daytime power supply to the farmers in all the 50 districts of the State. The agricultural consumers in 22 districts were earlier getting the power supply in two daytime blocks. With the inclusion of Dausa and Karauli under the Jaipur Discom, the number of districts covered in the scheme has increased to 24.

Mr. Sharma said the farmers in seven districts under Jaipur Discom – Dholpur, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, Jaipur, Deeg and Bharatpur – were at preset getting electricity in two daytime blocks for irrigation.

Similarly, under Ajmer Discom, 12 districts, including Ajmer, Beawar, Bhilwara, Didwana-Kuchaman, Udaipur, Salumbar, Rajsamand, Banswara, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Chittorgarh and Dungarpur, are covered. Three districts under Jodhpur Discom – Jalore, Sirohi and Pali – are also getting the facility.

As part of efforts to strengthen the power infrastructure in recent years, 18 new 33 KV grid sub-stations have been set up in Dausa and six in Karauli. The transformer capacity has also been enhanced by 128.95 MVA across 47 sub-stations in Dausa and by 49.45 MVA across 15 sub-stations in Karauli.

Additionally, 17 solar power plants with a combined capacity of 32 MW have been installed in the two districts under components A and C of the Prime Minister’s Kusum Yojana. Mr. Sharma said about 52,400 agricultural consumers in Dausa and 35,300 in Karauli were expected to benefit from the daytime electricity supply.

The latest move will reduce the need for irrigation during the late-night hours, especially in winter and rains, and will help the farmers avoid risks from wild animals in their agricultural fields. (EOM)