SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has set a target of installing 30,000 solar rooftops under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, while achieving 617 installations so far. Besides, 4,108 government buildings have been solarised, contributing 35.2 MW of capacity, with a further 13.6 MW installed by vendors. The initiative aims to promote clean energy and reduce electricity costs for domestic and institutional consumers across the Union Territory.
During a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, officials discussed progress and outlined strategies to accelerate the scheme’s implementation. Under the programme, domestic consumers benefit from subsidies of Rs 33,000 per kilowatt provided by the Government of India, along with an additional Rs 3,000 per kilowatt from the UT government for installations up to 3 kW. Financial institutions are extending loans at a rate of 7 per cent to further ease the adoption process.
Dulloo directed departments to intensify awareness campaigns, ensuring outreach to every panchayat with educational materials in local languages. He also instructed the Discoms to appoint nodal officers to oversee installations and report progress. The Chief Secretary emphasised that timely installations and increased applications are essential to the scheme’s success, which aims to enhance efficiency in power supply and reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
The solarisation of government buildings was also reviewed, with plans to achieve a total grid-connected capacity of 70 MW under the Capex model and an additional 238 MW under the RESCO mode through NHPC and JAKEDA. Commissioner Secretary of Science & Technology, Saurabh Bhagat, highlighted progress, revealing that the solarisation initiative is well underway to meet its targets.
Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, H Rajesh Prasad, noted that financial assistance is being directly disbursed to applicants within 15 days of installation. He added that the long-term savings for consumers, even for those taking loans, are attractive, especially given potential future increases in power tariffs.
The Chief Secretary called for greater efforts to ensure all targets are met within the scheme’s timeline, describing the initiative as a reform-oriented programme with significant public and environmental benefits.
