Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: The Minister for Social Welfare and Science and Technology today said 91,000 solar home lights have been provided to households in un-electrified villages in the J&K State.
While replying to a question of BJP member, Ajatshatru Singh in the Upper House today, Sajjad Lone said that the home lighting devices were provided under the Remote Village Electrification Programme. He said the Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) would also install 54 MW solar rooftop power plants in 2018-19.
Under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, the Government installed 3,000 solar street lighting systems and more 17,013 would be installed after the identification of the areas, Lone said.
The Minister said there was a 70 per cent subsidy for domestic consumers and 60 per cent to Government departments for solar rooftop systems.
He said the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved 100 MW solar energy park for the State and the department is also initiating tariff-based bidding for development of mega solar projects in the state at feasible locations.
Replying to a supplementary question of MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta, Lone said the Government has set in the process for distributing solar home lighting devices which would be followed by installation of solar rooftop power plants in all the district hospitals across the State. He also said that installation of solar lights at the roof top of Government buildings and other big buildings was under active consideration of Government. It would reduce the power bills by nearly 60%.
Replying to another supplementary question of MLC Girdhari Lal Raina, he said the Government would provide solar home lighting devices to all the genuine beneficiaries, including those living in Jagti migrants township.
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