With assured access to electricity and water, farmers—the true providers of food—can transform their land into fields of golden crops. In line with this vision, the joint Kusum-C initiative by the Central and State Governments is gaining pace in the Belagavi district. A total of 48 solar power units are being established across the district, aiming to generate 223.99 MW of electricity. This move is expected to ease the summer power shortage faced by farmers who rely on pump sets for irrigation.
Under the PM Kusum-C scheme, 48 solar plants are being developed in Belagavi district with a collective generation target of 223.99 MW. This is projected to address power shortages affecting irrigation pump sets, particularly during peak summer months.
The district, home to approximately 3.5 lakh borewells and pump sets, sees a significant number of farmers depending on electric pumps. The first phase includes the establishment of 48 solar units aimed at supplying power to 61,074 pump sets.
Except for Belagavi city, solar plants are being installed in the remaining seven electricity divisions—Bailhongal, Raybag, Ramadurga, Belagavi Rural, Chikkodi, Ghataprabha, and Athani—with 5 to 6 units per division. For the construction of 43 of these units, the district administration has allocated 819 acres and 16 guntas of government land, while the remaining five locations will utilize privately arranged land due to land constraints.
Project Implementation in Full Swing
Each megawatt of solar power requires around 4 acres of land. Out of the approved 48 units, construction has commenced at 25 locations. The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Corporation (CREDEL) is spearheading the implementation.
According to HESCOM officials, the 25 units currently under construction will be completed within three months. Land is already secured for the remaining 23 units, which will also be developed in phases and completed within this year, ensuring uninterrupted power for the region’s farmers.
Why This Project Matters
With hydropower generation dipping during summers, solar units under the PM Kusum-C scheme are being strategically set up within a 10 km radius of power substations. This ensures localized solar power generation, reduces dependence on conventional sources, and allows surplus energy to be sold to power distribution companies. The cost of setting up one megawatt of solar power ranges between ₹3.5 crore and ₹4 crore, with the central government offering a subsidy of ₹1 crore per MW.
“Out of 48 solar power units approved for Belagavi district, 25 have already entered the construction phase,” confirmed SEE Praveen Kumar C.
