Parliament Question: Agriphotovoltaic Projects in Andhra Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 507 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 AGRIPHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH 507. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS Will the minister of new and renewable energy be pleased to state: (a) the current status of implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) in Andhra Pradesh including the number of solar pumps installed, farmers benefitted and funds utilised, year and district-wise particularly in Kakinada; (b) the number of Agriphotovoltaic projects sanctioned in coastal Andhra Pradesh, the agricultural land covered and the average income enhancement per acre reported in any assessment; (c) whether the Government has assessed the potential of offshore wind energy in the Bay of Bengal coastal zone adjacent to Kakinada and if so, the details of findings and proposed action thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote rooftop solar adoption among small traders, fishermen households and youth entrepreneurs in Kakinada district under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY)? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK) (a) PM-KUSUM is a demand driven scheme. The capacities are allocated based on demand received from the States/UTs. Based on the demand received from the state, a total of 2,93,587 pumps are allocated under Component C (Feeder Level Solarization). However, no progress has been reported by the state so far. There is no demand received from the State of Andhra Pradesh for standalone solar pumps under Component B of the PM KUSUM scheme. (b) Component A of the PM KUSUM scheme allows for setting up of decentralized ground mounted grid connected solar power plants in stilt fashion (also known as Agrivoltaics) by farmers on their land. There is no demand received from the State of Andhra Pradesh for installation of decentralized plants under Component A of the scheme. (c) No specific assessment/study has been carried out in the Bay of Bengal coastal zone adjacent to Kakinada for offshore wind potential. (d) To promote rooftop solar adoption among all, including small traders, fishermen households and youth entrepreneurs, the Ministry has taken various steps, which inter-alia includes:• Creating awareness about the scheme, through awareness and outreach program such as print advertising in leading newspapers, TV commercials campaigns, Radio campaigns across FM stations, including regional channels, etc., in the country. • Online process from application to disbursal of subsidy directly into the bank account of the residential consumer through National Portal. • Availability of collateral free loan from nationalized banks at concessional interest rate of repo-rate plus 50 bps i.e. 5.75% per annum for the present, with tenure of 10 years. • Simplified the regulatory approval process by waiving technical feasibility requirement and introducing auto load enhancement upto 10 kW. • Net metering agreement has been made part of application in the National Portal. • Simplified process for registration of vendors to ensure sufficient and qualified vendors are available. • Capacity building and training programmes are being conducted for creating skilled manpower. • Established a grievance redressal mechanism for the timely resolution of grievances. A Call Centre with telephone number 15555 is operational in 12 languages. *****