Maharashtra launches portal to fast-track 7,000 MW solar project for farmers

The Maharashtra government has launched the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) 2.0 project management portal to speed up work under its MSKVY 2.0 scheme.

The scheme targets achieving 7,000 MW of decentralised solar capacity. It aims to supply daytime electricity to farmers through solar feeders. It follows a self-paying model where savings from reduced grid power costs are expected to recover project expenses within 6–8 years.

Under MSKVY 2.0, Mahavitaran will receive electricity at an average rate of Rs 3 per unit. This is expected to reduce the subsidy burden on the state government for supplying free power to agricultural pumps. It will also ease the cross-subsidy burden on industrial consumers.

The scheme is expected to attract private investment of around Rs 65 billion and create about 70,000 jobs in rural areas. Around 40,000 acres of land are being prepared for solar projects. Tenders have been issued, and work orders distributed to private developers.

Upgrades to the electricity grid are also underway to handle the increase in solar power generation.