Srinagar, Nov. 2 -- As many as 7,910 households in Srinagar have installed rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with consumers reporting savings of 30 to 40 per cent on their monthly electricity bills, Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo said on Wednesday. The figures were shared during an awareness and facilitation camp organised by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation (KPDCL) at Lal Chowk.

Labroo said the administration was working to expand participation in the scheme and ensure its benefits reached households across different economic backgrounds. He said coordination among KPDCL, the Power Development Department and district authorities was being strengthened to speed up documentation and subsidy transfers.

The camp featured advisory desks staffed by power engineers, demonstrations by certified vendors and a street play outlining the financial and environmental benefits of rooftop solar systems. The administration had also coordinated with financial institutions to facilitate low-interest loans and flexible instalment options for households unable to meet the initial installation costs.

Labroo cautioned consumers against unauthorised contractors and advised them to engage only empanelled vendors. He said action had been taken against several operators found involved in fraudulent activities, while awareness campaigns that had covered Downtown Srinagar were being extended to other residential areas.

KPDCL Managing Director Mehmood Ahmad Shah said the Kashmir division had recorded around 26,000 rooftop solar installations, compared with approximately 17,000 in the Jammu division. Srinagar, Budgam and Kupwara had performed well, while Baramulla and Bandipora required targeted efforts to accelerate adoption, he said. The progress of rooftop solar installations and other power sector initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir was also reviewed by Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal during a high-level assessment covering projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.