Adilabad: Adivasi farmers are relying on solar pump sets to irrigate their ROFR (recognized forest rights) land, but are still awaiting the promised support. Under the “Giri Vikasam” plan of the former BRS government, ITDA officials conducted excavations but failed to install electric motors, leaving farmers without irrigation facilities.
As forest officials refuse permission to conduct three-phase wires in forest areas, the state government is now focusing on solar packages as a viable solution to power irrigation motors. Earlier, during the Congressional regime, excavations were conducted on the “Indira Jalaprabha” plan to develop tribal lands under the “Indira Jalaprabha” plan. The current government has restored these efforts by approving solar pump kits for the same channel.
Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) will distribute solar pumps to tribal farmers in Pipri village, Indravelli Mandal on May 9, according to sources.
ITDA has approved 55 solar pumps under Giri Vikasam for use in the ROFR land development project, with Pattas held by Adivasi farmers. Kodapa Srikanth, director of the Indravelli Marketing Committee, said farmers would gain considerable benefits if solar pump sets were provided, especially because many people still face problems due to the lack of three-phase power.
Small and fringe Adivasi farmers have repeatedly called on the state government for solar motors to develop land, but their requests have largely been left unanswered. Most ROFR farmers grow crops such as cotton, and the lack of irrigation will prevent them from moving to alternatives such as rice or vegetable cultivation.
