SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday reviewed the progress of rooftop solar installations and solarisation of government buildings in Jammu and Kashmir and directed implementing agencies to address bottlenecks related to financing, vendor availability, metering and project execution.
At a meeting attended by senior officials of the Power Development Department (PDD), Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), power distribution companies and deputy commissioners, Dulloo assessed the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the solarisation of government buildings under CAPEX and RESCO models.
According to officials, Jammu and Kashmir has achieved 55.24 per cent of its rooftop solar target under the central scheme, with 46,133 residential rooftop solar systems installed against the Union Territory target of 83,500 installations by March 31, 2027. Officials said the achievement is above the national average of 50.80 per cent.
Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar informed the meeting that more than 89,680 applications had been received under the scheme, while 82,591 applicants had selected vendors. A total of 69,460 consumer agreements have been uploaded and 42,686 rooftop systems commissioned so far.
Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mehmood Ahmad Shah, said 17,809 rooftop installations with a capacity of 62.69 MW have been completed in areas served by Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), while 28,324 installations with a capacity of 102.55 MW have been completed in KPDCL areas. The cumulative rooftop solar capacity installed in Jammu and Kashmir now stands at 165.24 MW.
The meeting was informed that beneficiaries have received ₹344.14 crore in central subsidy and ₹13 crore in Union Territory subsidy under the programme.
Reviewing financing issues, Dulloo took note of the high number of rejected loan applications and directed power utilities to take up such cases with banks. Officials informed the meeting that of the 61,566 loan applications submitted, 17,416 had been rejected, including 14,232 in KPDCL areas. While 38,773 applications have been sanctioned and disbursed, another 5,367 remain under process.
The Chief Secretary directed the distribution companies to ascertain reasons for rejection and resolve issues wherever possible so that eligible consumers are not denied benefits under the scheme. He also asked utilities to ensure proportional distribution of vendors across districts to improve service availability and speed up installations.
On solarisation of government buildings, Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Babila Rakwal, informed the meeting that 8,850 of the 12,994 targeted government buildings have already been solarised under various programmes, creating a combined capacity of 95.64 MW.
Of these, 4,793 buildings with a capacity of 41.50 MW were covered under PM Surya Ghar and hybrid projects, while 4,057 buildings with a capacity of 54.14 MW were solarised under the ongoing programme.
Officials said material has been supplied for another 1,300 buildings, work is underway at 943 sites and surveys are being conducted for 1,901 more buildings.
Under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, JAKEDA has proposed solarisation of 8,000 government buildings with a cumulative capacity of 152 MW, with work orders already issued for 5,185 buildings. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has separately proposed solarisation of 1,500 government buildings with a capacity of 23 MW.
The meeting was informed that a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 8 MW has already been signed for the Health and Medical Education Department in Jammu, while surveys of School Education Department buildings are underway.
Dulloo directed JAKEDA and power utilities to ensure simultaneous installation of smart meters and completion of power purchase agreements to prevent delays in commissioning completed solar projects. He also asked JAKEDA to accelerate progress under the RESCO model through closer monitoring and faster resolution of implementation issues.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need for coordinated action among departments to ensure timely completion and operationalisation of solar projects across the Union Territory.
