As groundwater levels continue to decline across several parts of Karnataka, farmers have urged the Central Government to increase the capacity limit of subsidised solar-powered irrigation pumps under the PM-KUSUM Scheme from 7.5 Horse Power (HP) to at least 10 HP. Farmers say the existing pumps are no longer sufficient to draw water from deeper borewells, limiting the effectiveness of the scheme in drought-prone regions.
The demand comes as the Karnataka Energy Department has proposed the installation of 78,400 standalone solar-powered pumpsets under PM-KUSUM 2.0 (2026–2030) to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Farmers Demand Higher Capacity Pumps
Under the PM-KUSUM Component-B Scheme, launched in 2019, farmers receive subsidised standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps with financial support shared between the Centre, State and beneficiaries. The Central Government bears 30% of the project cost, the Karnataka Government contributes 50%, while farmers pay the remaining 20%.
However, farmers from drought-prone districts such as Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru say the current 7.5 HP limit no longer meets irrigation requirements as groundwater has receded significantly over the past few years.
Chandrashekar Reddy, a farmer from Chikkaballapur, said the solar pumps worked efficiently when groundwater was available at depths of 200 to 300 feet, but became ineffective as water levels dropped further.
Another farmer, Anjaneya Reddy from Kolar district, said many borewells now exceed 500 feet in depth, making higher-capacity pumps essential for agricultural irrigation.
He added that while the scheme successfully reduces diesel expenses, its benefits remain limited in semi-arid regions due to inadequate pump capacity.
Calls for Faster Installation
Apart from increasing pump capacity, farmers have also demanded faster installation of sanctioned solar pumpsets.
According to farmers, private vendors responsible for installations often take two to six months, delaying access to irrigation and increasing financial stress during cropping seasons.
Jayachandra Sharma, a farmer from Tumakuru district, said solar-powered pumps significantly reduce the cost of obtaining electricity connections, saving farmers nearly ₹4.5 lakh. However, delays in installation force many farmers to take additional loans after investing in borewell drilling.
Farmers have urged both the Central and State governments to ensure installations are completed within 30 days of sanction approval.
Over One Lakh Applications Received
Data from the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) shows strong demand for the scheme across the state.
For the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, nearly 40,000 solar pumps were sanctioned with a total project cost of approximately ₹1,501.34 crore.
The funding includes:
- ₹750.64 crore from the Karnataka Government
- ₹450.40 crore from the Central Government
- ₹300.30 crore as farmers’ contribution
Since the scheme’s implementation in 2021, KREDL has received 1,05,901 applications, sanctioned 56,000 pumpsets, while only 28,437 installations have been completed so far.
Government Acknowledges Groundwater Challenge
Officials admit that groundwater depletion has become a major concern in several districts.
BESCOM Managing Director N. Shivashankar acknowledged that farmers in Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur and Kolar face serious groundwater challenges due to over-extraction. However, he noted that the 7.5 HP capacity limit has been fixed by the Central Government, leaving limited flexibility for the State.
Meanwhile, KREDL officials indicated that the guidelines for PM-KUSUM 2.0 are yet to be released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. They expressed hope that the revised scheme may increase the permitted pump capacity.
Focus on Water Conservation
Farmers have also stressed that increasing pump capacity alone will not solve the groundwater crisis.
They have urged the government to restore, desilt and rejuvenate village lakes and water bodies to improve groundwater recharge and ensure long-term water availability for agriculture.
In a recent review meeting, KREDL Managing Director Divya Prabhu GRJ directed officials and vendors to expedite pending installations and complete them before September 30, 2026, to ensure farmers receive timely benefits under the scheme.
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