Rajasthan Boosts Farmer Irrigation Power: Dausa and Karauli Join 24-District Program

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday announced the extension of daytime electricity supply for agricultural consumers to Dausa and Karauli districts, expanding the initiative to a total of 24 districts across the state. The programme, aimed at providing farmers with reliable daytime power for irrigation, seeks to reduce dependence on night-time electricity and enhance agricultural productivity.

Under this initiative, farmers receive electricity in two designated daytime slots, allowing for safer and more convenient irrigation. The government plans to expand the scheme to cover all 50 districts of Rajasthan in a phased manner by 2027, as outlined in the state’s 2024–25 revised budget. Previously, 22 districts were already benefitting from daytime power supply, and the inclusion of Dausa and Karauli brings the total to 24.

In the Jaipur Discom area, daytime supply is now available in Dholpur, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, Jaipur, Deeg, Bharatpur, and the newly added Dausa and Karauli. Under the Ajmer Discom, 12 districts including Ajmer, Bhilwara, Udaipur, and Sikar are covered, while Jodhpur Discom provides the facility in Jalore, Sirohi, and Pali. This coordinated expansion ensures broader access to irrigation power across key agricultural regions.

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To support the extension, the state has significantly strengthened power infrastructure in the two new districts. In Dausa, 18 new 33 kV substations have been established, and transformer capacity across 47 substations has been increased by 128.95 MVA. In Karauli, six new 33 kV substations have been installed, with transformer capacity enhanced by 49.45 MVA across 15 substations.

The initiative also includes renewable energy support, with 17 solar power plants totaling 32 MW installed across both districts under the PM-KUSUM scheme. The daytime supply is expected to benefit 52,460 farmers in Dausa and 35,341 in Karauli, providing safer and more reliable irrigation while reducing the need for night-time work.

Officials said the expansion will ease the burden on farmers, particularly during extreme weather conditions, and mitigate risks associated with night-time irrigation, including encounters with wildlife. The move is also anticipated to improve overall quality of life for the state’s agricultural community while supporting sustainable energy usage.

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