Farmers raise objections to PM-KUSUM scheme implementation in Telangana

Farmers from across the State raise objections to PM-KUSUM scheme implementation, seeking clarity on HT power connection rules, Letters of Credit, and language accessibility. TGREDCO responds by extending the PPA deadline and appointing a dedicated officer to resolve concerns

Hyderabad: Farmers from various districts on Sunday raised several objections regarding the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme and sought clarity on key issues from TGREDCO officials.

Under the scheme, TGREDCO had invited applications from individual farmers, groups of farmers, self-help groups, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and others to set up grid-connected solar power plants on their land. The power generated would be purchased by DISCOMs at a pre-fixed tariff determined by the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) under Component-A of the scheme for a 25-year period.

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Farmers from multiple districts were invited to sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) at the TGREDCO office in Khairatabad. However, many expressed reservations and sought modifications before signing.

One of the key demands was that the power lines from the proposed solar plants to the sub-stations should be laid by DISCOMs. While farmers agreed to bear the cost of installation, they insisted that the responsibility for maintenance must lie with the DISCOMs.

Objections were also raised over the mandatory requirement of High Tension (HT) power connections for setting up the solar plants. Farmers argued that their existing Low Tension (LT) connections should suffice, citing examples from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where HT connections are not mandatory for similar projects.

Further, farmers expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding Letters of Credit (LoCs), which were earlier promised by officials to help secure bank loans for establishing the solar plants.

Another issue highlighted was the language barrier — the PPAs were available only in English. Farmers demanded copies be provided in Telugu to ensure better understanding.

In response to the concerns, TGREDCO officials extended the deadline for PPA signing to July 7. Additionally, a dedicated official has been appointed to assist farmers and address their queries during the process.