Srinagar, Apr 27: Under the “Jammu Solar City Mission”, government buildings in the Jammu City will get grid-tied rooftop solar energy plants and the project will be completed before March next year, officials said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jammu Smart City and Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Rahul Yadav told Rising Kashmir that rooftop solar energy plants have been installed on the rooftop of government buildings at some places in Jammu and the project will be completed by the end of March 2024.
“Under Rooftop Solar Power Plants on government buildings under Jammu Smart City Mission, we have installed solar panels at maximum government buildings and JMC is planning to install them at more places. We are facing a dearth of space for installing the solar panels and the project will be completed before March 2024,” he said.
Yadav said 90 percent of the share of the project is borne by the nodal agency Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and 10 percent by JMC.
Another official at J&K administration said under the solar pan movement in Union Territory, initiatives are underway to tap the renewable source of energy.
“J&K has installed capacity of 36.4 MW rooftop solar energy which is being scaled up to 300 MW in a couple of years for which projects valuing over Rs 1197 crore stands sanctioned,” he said.
The official said 5000 solar pumps under PM KUSUM have been taken up for installation for irrigation purposes with an 80% collective subsidy from MNRE and UT of J&K, out of which 800 solar pumps have been installed so far.
“Under phase-II scheme has launched Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme for Residential and Group Housing Societies (GHS)/Residential Welfare Scheme (RWA) categories of consumers with Central Finance Assistance (CFA) of 40%, UT share of 25% and Beneficiary share of Rs 35%,” he said.
The official said that 800 solar pumps have been installed under the scheme. 32,479 solar streetlights were installed and 30,186 solar home lights were distributed to people living in far-flung areas. “500 farmers have energized their irrigation pump sets with solar power and another 4500 farmers are targeted in the next two years,” he said.
About the present status, the official said that at present 57 project proposals and 35 DPR have been finalized, under the Resource Assessment of SHP, the remaining are in the process of finalization.
The official said 19,000 solar streetlights (LED based) in J&K at a total project cost of Rs 47.84 crores with 90% of funding by MNRE under Solar Streetlighting.
“Additionally 13,479 Solar streetlights installed and 30,186 Solar Home Lights distributed in J&K under PMDP,” he said.