Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 20: With domestic consumers increasingly showing interest in harnessing renewable energy to address their electricity needs, Masjids in Kashmir are now also opting for solar rooftops under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’.
According to officials, Masjids are turning to renewable energy to reduce electricity bills under the scheme, which also covers religious places, including Gurudwaras, temples etc.
In the initial phase, four Masjids in Kashmir-three in Srinagar and one in Shopian-have installed solar rooftops under the scheme.
As per details, the Masjid in Shopian has installed a 5-kilowatt solar rooftop plant, while the three in Srinagar have installed 3, 5, and 10-kilowatt plants, respectively.
“The Masjids are opting for larger plants under the scheme to meet their energy demands. One of the Masjids in Khanyar sub-division has opted for a 10-kilowatt plant. This will significantly help in reducing their monthly electricity bills,” officials from the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) told the Excelsior.
They noted that the design of Masjid roofs in Kashmir makes them particularly well-suited for solar installations compared to residential houses.
“Some residential roofs accommodate only a limited number of panels due to their design, which restricts capacity. However, mosque roofs generally allow for more panels, enabling greater solar power generation,” the officials added.
Notably, over 300 rooftop solar installations have been completed in Kashmir, covering residential houses with capacities starting from 1 kilowatt and above.
Officials told the Excelsior that under the rate code covering residential houses and other establishments, religious places-including Masjids, Gurudwaras, and others-are also eligible to benefit from the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and can avail the benefits just like the domestic consumers.
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