PM Surya Ghar Yojana Jammu & Kashmir: In a significant push towards sustainable energy, J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has set an ambitious target of installing 30,000 solar rooftops by March under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This initiative, aimed at creating a greener, more sustainable future, was discussed in a recent meeting attended by key officials from various departments including Principal Secretary PDD, Finance, Science & Technology, MD JPDCL/KPDCL, CEO JAKEDA, and other concerned officers.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana – Overview
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to provide up to 300 units of free electricity every month to one crore households across India. This translates to an annual saving of approximately ₹15,000 crore for these families, with the added benefit of selling surplus power back to the local distribution companies (DISCOMs) for additional income. The scheme not only aims at reducing electricity bills but also at boosting employment through the supply, installation, and maintenance of solar panels.
How to Apply Online for Surya Ghar Solar Rooftop Scheme
To apply online for the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, interested citizens in Jammu and Kashmir can follow these steps:
Registration: Visit the official PM Surya Ghar Yojana portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in and register with necessary personal details.
Documentation: Upload the electricity bill and a photo of the area where the solar panels are to be installed. This helps in assessing the feasibility of installation.
Feasibility Approval: Once the application is submitted, wait for feasibility approval. The DISCOMs will assess whether the installation is viable based on the provided details.
Installation: After approval, select a registered vendor from the list provided by DISCOMs to install the solar rooftop system. The installation must be completed within the specified timeframe to avail the subsidy.
Subsidy Disbursement: The subsidy is credited directly to the applicant’s bank account 15 days post-installation, ensuring financial assistance is received promptly.
Benefits of PM Surya Ghar Solar Rooftop Scheme
- Subsidies: Domestic consumers can benefit from a central financial assistance of ₹33,000 per kW, with an additional ₹3,000 per kW from the UT government, up to a capacity of 3 kW. This significantly reduces the out-of-pocket expenses for installation.
- Loan Facilities: Financial institutions are offering loans at a concessional rate of 7% to facilitate easier access to solar installations.
- Environmental Impact: The initiative supports the national Green Energy Mission by promoting clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing energy efficiency.
- Economic Benefits: With rising power tariffs, the savings from solar power are expected to increase, providing long-term financial benefits to households. Additionally, it contributes to reducing Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses, improving power supply efficiency.
- Job Creation: The project is expected to create 8,000 new jobs, from installation to maintenance, thereby boosting local employment.
Awareness and Outreach
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized the need for extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to raise public awareness. Plans include creating materials in local languages, sending bulk SMSs, and conducting outreach programs in each panchayat with educational videos and success stories to illustrate the benefits of the scheme. Nodal officers have been appointed within the DISCOMs to oversee these efforts and provide feedback.
PM Surya Ghar Yojana Progress in J&K
To date, approximately 11,000 applications have been received by DISCOMs in Jammu and Kashmir, with 617 installations completed. The government is also pushing for the solarization of public buildings through JAKEDA, with 4108 buildings already covered, installing a capacity of 35.2 MW, and vendors adding another 13.6 MW. Under the Capital Expenditure (Capex) model, a total of 70 MW capacity is targeted for government buildings with an additional 238 MW under the RESCO mode by NHPC and JAKEDA.
The PM Surya Ghar Yojana in Jammu and Kashmir is a testament to the region’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental conservation, and economic growth, paving the way for a brighter, cleaner future.