Govt to install around 350 MWs of SRT plants over govt buildings: CS

Srinagar, Nov 15: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY), emphasising the need for increased public awareness and outreach to meet the targets under this central scheme.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from various departments, including the Principal Secretary of PDD, Principal Secretary of Finance, Commissioner Secretary of Science and Technology, and representatives from NHPC, REC, and other concerned agencies, focused on enhancing efforts to engage the public and maximize participation in the scheme. The officials attended either in person or via video conference.
Chief Secretary Dulloo urged the Power Development Department (PDD) and Distribution Companies (Discoms) to intensify awareness campaigns to inform the public about the benefits of the scheme. He emphasized the greater potential of the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, where residents can avail free electricity by participating in it.
To improve outreach, Dulloo suggested using a variety of media platforms, including bulk SMS campaigns and incorporating scheme details on monthly electricity bills. He specifically highlighted targeting consumers with high monthly electricity bills, as they stand to benefit the most.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the progress of the solarization of government buildings under the J&K Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA). He noted the ongoing tendering process for the installation of solar rooftops funded through either the Capex or RESCO mode. Dulloo emphasized the need for regular monitoring to ensure timely completion of these projects.
In the presentation, Choudhary Yasin, Managing Director of JPDCL, provided an update on the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, a pan-India on-grid solar rooftop scheme aimed at reducing AT&C losses while providing free or low-cost electricity to households.
Yasin informed the meeting that the department had widely publicized the scheme and that thousands of residents had registered online. To date, approximately 350 consumers have received subsidies via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
The scheme offers a central subsidy of up to Rs 85,800 for a 3 kWp solar rooftop installation, along with additional UT subsidies of up to Rs 9,000 for the same capacity. The total subsidy amount is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
The targets for the scheme are set at 39,500 households for JPDCL and 44,000 households for KPDCL, with the goal of reaching these targets by 2027.
The meeting was informed that customer grievances related to the scheme are centrally tracked through a call center accessed via the toll-free number 15555. All grievances received so far have been resolved to the full satisfaction of the consumers.
Regarding the solarization of government buildings, Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner Secretary of Science & Technology, presented the ongoing efforts to saturate government infrastructure with solar rooftop plants. JAKEDA has launched an e-tender for the installation of 70 MW of solar rooftops under Capex mode across 8,548 government buildings . Additionally, 238 MW of solar rooftops are being installed across 9,877 buildings under the RESCO mode, bringing the total capacity to 344 MW across Jammu and Kashmir, with 36 MW already installed as of October 2024.
The meeting also discussed the installation of smart meters in government buildings and the prompt passing of virtual net metering benefits to consumers.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reiterated the importance of both the PM Surya Ghar Yojana and the solarization of government buildings as critical components of Jammu and Kashmir’s clean energy future. He urged all concerned departments and agencies to work in synergy to meet the set targets and ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives.
The Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo this week emphasized the importance of a timely recruitment process during a meeting of the officers and urged the SSRB to create an annual recruitment calendar to provide candidates with a clear timeline and reduce uncertainties. He directed departments to submit vacancy details with well-defined recruitment rules and clarify reservation-based positions to avoid delays.