J&K Solar Initiative: 5,400 Homes Get ‘Zero’ Electricity Bills, 83,500-House Target Set
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana sees 13,615 rooftop solar installations as UT ramps up clean energy drive
Jammu, Nov 12: Jammu and Kashmir has made significant strides in solar energy adoption, with over 13,600 rooftop solar systems installed across the Union Territory and more than 5,400 households now receiving “zero electricity bills,” officials said on Wednesday. The UT has set an ambitious target of covering 83,500 homes under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
The update was shared during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, focusing on the progress of the rooftop solar initiative. “As many as 5,413 consumers under the scheme have already achieved zero electricity bills, reflecting tangible on-ground progress,” a senior official stated.
Gurpal Singh, Managing Director of Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited, noted that the UT has received 76,000 applications so far. Of these, 37,500 consumers have selected vendors, and 17,151 agreements have been signed. Central Financial Assistance worth Rs 96.68 crore has already been released for 11,297 beneficiaries.
The UT has also advanced in solarising government infrastructure. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary of the Science and Technology Department, said 6,716 out of 22,494 government buildings have been solarised, achieving a total capacity of 64.67 MW. Under the 70 MW rooftop solar project, work orders covering 4,338 buildings (47.45 MW) have been issued, with 1,987 sites (25.50 MW) fully installed and an additional 5 MW of material in transit, expected by November 30.
Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized the scheme’s transformative potential for J&K’s energy landscape, calling it vital for an energy-deficient region. He directed divisional and district administrations to ensure timely implementation and urged power distribution companies to educate citizens on the scheme’s benefits, facilitate vendor selection, and expedite installations. Dulloo also stressed robust monitoring and regular district-level evaluations to achieve the ambitious targets.
