With first panels installed, KPDCL kickstarts solar rooftops under PM Surya Ghar

Srinagar: In a significant development, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Wednesday formally kickstarted the flagship PM Surya Ghar Yojana in Kashmir Division with the installation of first rooftop solar panels.
Er. Fayaz Ahmad Yatoo, became the first beneficiary of a 6 kWp rooftop solar plant at his residence at Rambagh, in Electric Subdivision Chanapora. He is entitled to a Central subsidy of Rs.85,800/- which shall be credited directly into his account.
Managing Director, KPDCL, Mussarat Islam, Chief Engineer Distribution, Er. Sandeep Seth, SE O&M Circle II, Er. Shurjeel Ghani Lala, senior engineering staff besides REC officials and empanelled solar vendor M/S Kashmir Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. were present on the occasion.
In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, a KPDCL spokesperson said that with onboarding of solar vendors on the National Portal, more beneficiaries shall be covered under the flagship scheme which is set to become a trendsetter in the power sector.
Urging the consumers to come forward and apply for the solar scheme through National Surya Ghar Portal, the spokesperson further stated that no Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) is now required for a solar plant up to 10 kWp, adding the panels shall be installed on rooftops only.
Dwelling upon the details of the subsidy available to the consumers under the scheme, the spokesman said that J&K has been categorised as a special category J&K with subsidy for residential rooftop solar ranging from 60% of the system cost up to 2 kW & 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2-3 kW capacity. At current benchmark prices, it adds up to Rs.33,000/- subsidy for 1 kWp, Rs.66,000/- for 2 kWp and Rs. 85,800/- for 3 kWp solar rooftop system or higher.
In order to facilitate the beneficiaries and popularize the solar rooftop scheme, KPDCL has a hyperlink available for PM Surya Ghar Yojana on www.kpdcl.jkpdd.net.
The spokesman further added that Kashmir DISCOM is continuously holding awareness camps and IEC campaigns so that the scheme is popularized amongst the general public.