91000 solar home lighting devices provided to un-electrified villages: Sajad

Jammu, Jan 15: Minister for Social Welfare, ARI & Trainings and Science & Technology Sajad Gani Lone today informed that the government has distributed 91,000 solar home lighting devices to the households of un-electrified villages and hamlets of the state under Remote Village Electrification Programme of MNRE, Govt of India.
Replying to a question of Ajatshatru Singh, the Minister informed that the Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) would also install 54 MW Solar Rooftop Power Plants in 2018-19. Under Prime Minister’s Development Package, the government installed 3,000 solar street lighting systems while as more 17,013 would be installed after the finalisation identification of the areas, he added.
The Minister informed that there is a 70 per cent subsidy for domestic consumers and 60 per cent to government departments for solar rooftop PV systems under MNRE, GoI.
Sajad Lone informed that the MNRE, Govt of India 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 Naresh Kumar Gupta, the Minister 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.
Replying to a supplementary question of Girdhari Lal Raina, the Minister said the government would provide solar home lighting devices to all the genuine beneficiaries including those living in Jagti Migrant Township.