5,400 households receive zero electricity bills under PM Surya Ghar Scheme
Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a review meeting to evaluate the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’s progress in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on district-wise performance, challenges, and strategies for enhancing the implementation of this rooftop solar initiative. Top officials from various departments participated, with Deputy Commissioners joining via video conferencing. During the meeting it was revealed that 5,413 out of 13,579 rooftop solar installations have resulted in zero electricity bills for consumers, indicating significant progress.
Addressing the meeting Chief Secretary emphasized the scheme’s potential to transform J&K’s energy landscape, urging local administrations to ensure timely implementation. He also highlighted the need for public outreach, directing power distribution companies to enhance awareness campaigns about the scheme’s benefits and assist consumers in vendor selection. Dulloo sought detailed feedback from Deputy Commissioners regarding local challenges and innovations, encouraging banks to improve loan disbursement rates to facilitate household participation. Additional Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar stressed the importance of coordination among banks, vendors, and district administrations, advocating for transparency in vendor selection and effective consumer feedback mechanisms. The meeting also addressed the solarization of government buildings, with 6,716 out of 22,494 proposed buildings already solarized, achieving a total capacity of 64.67 MW. The Secretary of Science & Technology reported that work orders for 47.45 MW capacity covering 4,338 buildings have been issued, with significant progress in material delivery and installations. In conclusion, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to advancing clean energy initiatives and self-reliant power generation in Jammu and Kashmir through the effective execution of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
