India: Farmers to receive energy efficient water pumps

In an initiative similar to the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme, the Indian Ministry of Power aims to provide farmers with energy efficient water pumps at affordable rates through the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL). Under EESL’s Agriculture Demand Side Management programme, Bureau of Energy Efficiency star-rated high-efficiency pumps will replace existing inefficient models. The project aims at providing free-of-cost star-rated energy efficient pump sets to farmers along with an electrical control panel. The new pump sets are also provided with free maintenance and repair. Initially, the programme aims to expand through four states, targeting nearly 70 lakh pump sets across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Karnataka.