Telangana's Chief Minister Unveils Indira Soura Giri Water Development: Complimentary Solar Irrigation Pumps for Indigenous Agriculturists
In a significant move to support farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices, the Telangana government has launched the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme. This initiative, a key component of the 'Nallamala Declaration', aims to transform the lives of tribal farmers by providing them with free solar pumps for irrigation.
The scheme, which is estimated to cost Rs 12,600 crore over three years, is funded entirely by the state government with an additional financial outlay of Rs 1,600 crore. The scheme was officially launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Macharam village.
The focus of the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is to equip farmers with modern irrigation tools, including solar pump sets, sprinklers, and drip irrigation equipment. These tools, ranging from 5 to 7.5 horsepower, will support the irrigation of horticultural crops in remote areas.
In the first year, an allocation of Rs 600 crore has been made to irrigate 27,000 acres, benefiting 10,000 farmers. Each solar pump, costing Rs 6 lakh, will be fully subsidized by the government. The scheme targets 2.1 lakh tribal farmers and plans to bring irrigation facilities to six lakh acres of Rights of Forest Records (RoFR) land over five years.
The implementation of the scheme is being led by the Telangana state government under the Congress administration. The Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has reviewed the scheme's progress, particularly in areas with significant agricultural activities such as Kothagudem in Bhadradri district.
Areas where farmers are working on ROFR lands, especially in districts with access to Godavari river water like Bhadrachalam, are the primary target areas for this scheme. The state government is closely monitoring water levels during the monsoon in these regions.
The Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is part of a broader vision to empower tribal populations through sustainable agricultural practices. It aligns with the government's plan, outlined around mid-2025, for the investment and implementation of irrigation infrastructure over a three-year period.
The scheme also aims to enable women's self-help groups to generate additional income and contribute to the state's renewable energy goals. Officials have been directed to prepare plans for setting up solar power plants through these groups.
This initiative is expected to add about 105 MW of solar capacity to the state, as demonstrated by the installation of around 15,000 solar pumps in the year 2020-21. The scheme was inaugurated as a pilot project covering 45 acres and benefiting 45 tribal families in Macharam village.
The 'Nallamala Declaration', unveiled during the launch event, outlines various developmental initiatives for tribal communities residing in forest areas. The Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is a testament to the government's commitment to improving the livelihoods of these communities and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
In line with the government's broader vision for empowering tribal populations, the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme is not only focused on equipping farmers with modern irrigation tools but also aims to enable women's self-help groups to generate additional income and contribute to the state's renewable energy goals.
This focus on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and science is evident in the scheme's plan to align with the government's mid-2025 plan for investment and implementation of irrigation infrastructure, which promotes sustainable agricultural practices for better health and wellness of the tribal communities.
