Sops, subsidies on offer for investors in agri sector

:The Rajasthan government is organising a three-day “Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet” from November 7.

Investors willing to set up a wide range of agri projects in the state will be offered a slew of sops, including subsidies and tax benefits, said Neelkamal Darbari, state principal secretary, agriculture. “The government has declared the agriculture sector as a ‘thrust area’ for investment and investors willing to invest in Rajasthan will be offered additional sops for setting up projects in the state and the Rajasthan Agro-Processing and Agri-Marketing Promotion Policy, 2015, is already in place,” she said.

Outlining the sops offered to investors, Darbari said that customised packages will be offered for projects more than ₹ 100 crore or those providing direct employment to 250 or more people.

Similarly, the government will provide 50% rebate in stamp duty on conversion of non-agriculture land and 100% rebate in stamp duty on conversion of agriculture land for setting up of agriculture projects in the state, she said.

Besides there will a large number benefits for an investor for setting up projects in the agri sector, she said adding that service sector units in agriculture will be eligible for 5% interest subsidy.

In addition, agri units will be entitled to 50% exemption on electricity duty and mandi fee on purchase of raw material, she said.

state’s first canal-top solar plant in Hanumangarh’s Mainawali village was inaugurated by irrigation minister Dr Rampratap.

The 2 MW plant will generate more than 24 lakh unit electricity every year. The ₹20 crore project has been constructed by the AGV Solar Power Project Private Ltd, and the state government has provided a grant of ₹ 7.8 crore.

The company will maintain the plant for the next 25 years.

The plant, completed in two years, consists of 7,500 solar panels installed on mirrors, spread over a 2.8 km length and each panel will generate 320 watt of electricity.

Every day 12,000 units of electricity will be generated.

Inaugurating the plant, Rampratap said the project has been started as pilot and will not only generate electricity but will also curb vaporization of water as the plant is installed on a canal, saving land and curbing water theft.

“The power produced from the plant is connected with the 33/11KV grid at Naurangdesar and the government is purchasing electricity at ₹4.45 for every unit,” he said. HTC

UDAIPUR JAIPUR:The