Jammu & Kashmir Greenlights Rs 400 Crore Large-Scale Rooftop Solar Initiative for Government Buildings

In a significant move towards sustainability, the Administrative Council of Jammu & Kashmir, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has given the green light to a large-scale solar energy project. This initiative will see the installation of Grid-Tied Rooftop solar power systems across government buildings in the region. The project, valued at Rs 400 crore, aims to harness an aggregate capacity of 70 MW under Capex mode and 200 MW under RESCO mode.

The Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) will oversee the implementation of this project. Solar power systems of various capacities will be installed on government rooftops, making use of available space for solar energy generation. The systems will include bi-directional smart meters, and DISCOMs will provide Virtual Net Metering (VNM) benefits to optimize energy usage across different buildings within the same department. The project is slated for completion by the end of December 2025, with maintenance provided free of charge for five years by JKEDA through approved vendors.

Additionally, sites developed under the RESCO mode will involve Power Purchase Agreements lasting 25 years with the relevant departments, with tariffs determined through a bidding process. The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 8.3 million tons over 25 years and create over 10,800 jobs in various skill categories. There will also be increased job opportunities in the solar PV sector, including roles related to equipment manufacturing and supply.

The meeting also saw the approval of continued affiliation for Government ITIs and Polytechnics in Leh and Kargil with the J&K Board of Technical Education. This decision, made at the request of the Union Territory of Ladakh, extends the current arrangement until the end of the academic session 2025-26 or until Ladakh establishes its own Board of Technical Education. This move aims to ensure a smooth admission process and timely examinations for students in the UT of Ladakh.

The Administrative Council meeting was attended by Advisor to LG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and Principal Secretary to LG Mandeep K Bhandari.