Jammu, Nov 10 (KNO): Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting deliberated on the district-wise performance, challenges, and strategies to accelerate the implementation of this flagship rooftop solar (RTS) initiative aimed at promoting sustainable and affordable household energy solutions.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD), Shailendra Kumar; Principal Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Secretary, Science & Technology (S&T); Director General, Budget; Managing Directors of JPDCL, KPDCL, and JAKEDA, besides other senior officers. All Deputy Commissioners joined the meeting through video conferencing.
At the outset, it was informed that 5,413 consumers out of the total 13,579 rooftop solar installations under the scheme have already received zero electricity bills, reflecting tangible progress on the ground.
The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of the scheme in transforming the energy landscape of J&K, noting that as an energy-deficit region, the Union Territory stands to benefit immensely from the adoption of clean and reliable solar power. He called upon the Divisional and District Administrations to ensure smooth and time-bound implementation of the scheme in every district.
Emphasizing on public outreach, Sh. Dulloo directed both power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to intensify awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the multiple benefits of the scheme, assist consumers in vendor selection, and facilitate speedy installations. He further stressed on robust monitoring and regular evaluation of district-level progress to achieve the set targets.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also took a detailed district-wise appraisal from the Deputy Commissioners, seeking insights on implementation challenges and local innovations. He urged the banks to enhance the rate of loan disbursement under the scheme, enabling better and faster uptake by eligible households.
Speaking on the occasion, ACS PDD, Shailendra Kumar, highlighted the need for enhanced coordination between banks, vendors, and district administrations, urging financial institutions to actively publicize the lowest interest rates and subsidies available under the scheme. He stressed on maintaining transparency in vendor selection and prompt signing of consumer agreements.
He also called for stringent monitoring of call centre performance and consumer feedback mechanisms, besides taking corrective action against underperforming vendors. He directed that the ongoing IEC campaign be further intensified across districts to generate awareness about the scheme’s economic and environmental benefits.
The MD JPDCL, Gurpal Singh further informed that J&K has set a target of covering 83,500 households under the scheme. He added that as of date, 76,000 applications have been received, of which 37,500 consumers have selected vendors and 17,151 have signed agreements. Additionally, 13,615 rooftop solar systems have been installed, and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) amounting to Rs96.68 Cr has been released in favour of 11,297 beneficiaries.
The Chief Secretary later reviewed the progress made under the solarization of government buildings being undertaken by the Energy Development Agency of the Science & Technology Department and the Model Solar Village initiative. He directed the concerned departments to expedite implementation to ensure timely completion across all 20 districts.
About its implementation the Secretary, Science & Technology, Dr.Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, apprised the meeting that J&K has made notable strides in the solarization of government infrastructure, with 6,716 buildings already solarized out of the 22,494 proposed, achieving a total installed capacity of 64.67 MW.
He further informed that under the 70 MW Rooftop Solar (RTS) Project, work orders for 47.45 MW capacity covering 4,338 buildings have been issued. Material delivery has been completed at 2,806 sites (35.88 MW), while 1,987 sites (25.50 MW) have been fully installed. An additional 5 MW capacity is currently in transit and expected to be delivered by November 30.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to advancing the goals of clean energy transition and self-reliant power generation in Jammu and Kashmir through the effective implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana—(KNO)