Jammu and Kashmir has made a strong start under the central government’s rooftop solar scheme and is expected to record rapid progress as installations gather momentum, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal said during a visit to Srinagar on October 3.

Agarwal visited a Seva Setu Abhiyan Camp organised under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) at Rajbagh. The visit focused on improving public outreach, supporting citizen-centric service delivery and informing residents about the benefits of installing rooftop solar systems.

The secretary said around 5 mn people across the country had benefited from the scheme. He noted that Jammu and Kashmir had recently achieved an initial milestone of 100 MW in rooftop solar capacity and said the Union Territory could see faster growth once the implementation momentum strengthened.

Agarwal also highlighted the Centre’s efforts to develop Jammu and Kashmir’s hydroelectric potential. Several projects are being built along the Chenab river through the Chenab Valley Power Corporation, a joint venture involving the Union government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

Work on the Ratle, Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects is already under way, with the administration providing cooperation, according to Agarwal. Discussions are also continuing on the proposed Sawalkote project, which the Centre intends to take up in the near future.

The secretary said the projects would help meet electricity demand in Jammu and Kashmir while also supporting requirements in other parts of the country. The combined focus on rooftop solar and hydropower is intended to expand clean-energy generation and strengthen the region’s contribution to India’s wider power needs.