But power played culprit. And despite the availability of water, farmers were unable to irrigate their fields. The economic and social consequences were far-reaching, with farmers even having to leave their village for the cities, in search of livelihood.

Understanding the urgent need to provide alternative energy for water pumping, the Punjab Energy Development Agency, after much deliberation, decided upon a 2 HP DC Surface Pumping System, powered by the sun!

And in the year 2000 awarded Tata BP Solar an order for 225 Solar Water Pumping Systems. To make the Systems financially viable to farmers, a complex web of financial engineering was developed. Working closely with the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and the State Government, the Punjab Energy Development Agency, offered the Pumping Systems to farmers at an end-user contribution of just Rs.35,000/-

The response was overwhelming. 500 Pumps were booked in just 2 months.

Over the next two years, Tata BP Solar got to work – supplying, installing and commissioning the Systems in hamlets across the state. The logistics were challenging. The distances between installations vast and time-consuming. The deadlines for the project – punishing. Yet Tata BP Solar rose to occasion, demonstrating once again, its commitment – not just to renewable energy but also to improving the quality of life of people in the region.