Fazil mir
Srinagar, Oct 28 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the promise of 200 units of free electricity made by the Chief Minister earlier this year will be implemented only after the commissioning of rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Waheed Parra as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, the government said the scheme will benefit 2.22 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, with each home equipped with a 2-kilowatt rooftop solar system.
“The Detailed Project Reports and tendering process for installation are currently under preparation in the respective DISCOMs,” the reply stated, adding that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has already granted in-principle approval for implementation through the RESCO/Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model.
Once operational, the rooftop solar systems will provide up to 200 units of free electricity per month to each beneficiary household. The government emphasized that the model ensures financial sustainability and prevents losses to power distribution corporations.
“The delay in implementation is due to procedural requirements like DPR preparation, finalizing tenders, and setting up the ULA model,” the government explained.
The reply also highlighted that 6.52 lakh smart meters have been installed across Jammu and Kashmir so far, including 2.81 lakh in the last two years, under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and the Prime Minister’s Development Package.
The government clarified that there is no proposal to privatize the installation, maintenance, or management of smart meters, and that service providers are engaged only for project implementation under strict regulatory and contractual oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability. —(KNC)
