Srinagar, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Jammu and Kashmir government has successfully installed over 46,000 rooftop solar units as part of the Prime Minister‘s Surya Ghar free electricity scheme. This achievement marks 55.24% of the set target for the Union Territory.
In a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Ashwani Kumar, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Power Development Department, announced that the goal is to install 83,500 residential rooftop solar units by March 31, 2027. So far, 46,133 units have been established, surpassing the national progress rate of 50.80%.
Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Managing Director of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL), reported that out of the total units installed, 17,809 are in areas served by the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), with a combined capacity of 62.69 megawatts. Meanwhile, KPDCL has installed 28,324 rooftop solar units, contributing an impressive 102.55 megawatts to the grid. Overall, Jammu and Kashmir’s total installed rooftop solar capacity now stands at 165.24 megawatts.
The meeting also highlighted that beneficiaries have received a total of ₹344.14 crores in central subsidies and ₹13 crores from the Union Territory’s own subsidy fund under the scheme.
Chief Secretary Dulloo urged the Power Development Department and relevant agencies to address obstacles hindering installation progress. He specifically pointed out the need to expedite bank financing, ensure the availability of authorized vendors, and finalize metering and power purchase agreements (PPAs) promptly.
Concerns were raised regarding the high rejection rate of bank loan applications. Dulloo instructed power distribution companies to follow up on all rejected loan cases with the respective banks to seek resolutions.
Additionally, the solarization of government buildings was reviewed. Officials noted a target of solarizing 12,994 government buildings, with 8,850 already completed, yielding a combined capacity of 95.64 megawatts. This includes 4,793 buildings under the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar scheme and hybrid projects, contributing 41.50 megawatts, along with 4,057 buildings from ongoing programs, which have a capacity of 54.14 megawatts.
Officials mentioned that remaining projects are at various stages. Materials for about 1,300 buildings have been delivered, while work is ongoing at 943 sites. Surveys are also being conducted for 1,901 additional buildings.
The Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar free electricity scheme aims to provide relief to residential consumers by installing solar panels on rooftops and promoting clean energy throughout the country. Eligible families can benefit from up to 300 units of free electricity each month. The central government aims to assist one crore families under this initiative, with a budget allocation of ₹75,021 crores. Financial assistance based on rooftop solar system capacity is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Leave a Comment