Comm Secy S&T inaugurates day-long awareness programme on GCRSS at Katra

KATRA : The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development (JAKEDA) today conducted day-long awareness programme on Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (GCRSS) of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI at Conference Hall, Spiritual Growth Centre, here.

The programme was inaugurated by Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology (S&T), Saurabh Bhagat.

SDM Katra,Angrej Singh, elected members of MC, Katra, officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, PDD, PWD Departments and representatives of Hotels and Restaurants Association, Katra attended the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Saurabh Bhagat said that the Ministry has sanctioned a cumulative capacity of 200 MW for Jammu City and 20 MW for the rest of the Districts of the UT wherein the Ministry provides an incentive of 40% for all the Solar Plants upto 3 KW capacity and 20% beyond 3 KW upto 10 KW. He added that in addition to above, a flat subsidy of 25% shall be provided by the UT government for all the Solar Plants upto 10 KW capacity to make the scheme viable for residential consumers.

The Commissioner Secretary suggested to install a solar power plant at a centralized location in Katra town so that the benefit of solar energy generated could be passed on to the individual beneficiaries / inhabitants of the adjacent area through virtual net metering..

The Commissioner Secretary also informed about PM-KUSUM scheme which is primarily meant for upliftment of farmers wherein the farmers can install subsidized Solar Powered Pumps upto 10 H.P. capacity for which the Ministry provides 50% subsidy and the UT of J&K provides an additional subsidy of 30% of the total cost of the system with farmers having to bear only 20% cost of the pump. He requested the elected member of MC Katra to identify the prospective farmers who could avail the benefits under Solar Pumping Scheme.

Commissioner Secretary also informed about establishment of Biotechnology Park by Jammu & Kashmir Science Technology & Innovation Council (JKST&IC) wherein the farmers can cultivate aromatic plants like Lavender, Damascus Rose and other aromatic plants for extraction of oils and generate a handsome income out of the same.

CEO, JAKEDA, Dr. P. R Dhar advised the MC, Katra to identify the prospective beneficiaries under Solar Rooftop Scheme, wherein the beneficiary share could partly be paid out of the DDC/BDC grants and the rest by the individual beneficiary. He also informed that the group housing societies could also avail the subsidy under the Rooftop Scheme by installing the solar power plant at a Centrally located place and take the net metering benefit individually in a proportional manner.

During the programme, the officers were apprised about the various benefits/incentives extended by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy MNRE Gol, under the Rooftop Solar Scheme, which is primarily meant for off-setting the Monthly Electricity Bills by residential consumers of UT of J&K through net metering mechanism.

The pamphlets containing all the related information of Rooftop Solar Scheme, like prices, subsidy amount, beneficiary share, contact numbers of nodal persons, were also distributed among the officers on the occasion.