Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 03
The decision to provide 200 units of free electricity in Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Union Territory government as a matter of policy, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal said on Saturday, putting the spotlight on a key election promise of the ruling National Conference.
Asked whether J&K could follow Delhi and Punjab in providing 200 units of free electricity, Agarwal said, “I think that is a state government policy.”
The remarks come nearly two years after the NC promised 200 units of free electricity in its manifesto for the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
The promise was made as part of the party’s commitment to address the power crisis and provide relief to households.
The Omar Abdullah-led government, however, moved towards a targeted scheme after taking office. In its 2025-26 Budget, it proposed 200 free units a month for families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana rather than extending the benefit to all households.
The government linked the proposal with the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and proposed rooftop solar systems as a means of generating the required electricity.
The NC’s 2024 manifesto had promised to “provide 200 units of electricity free”. The administration later cited the financial implications of a universal scheme in pursuing a targeted approach.
The Indian Express reported in January that extending 200 free units to around 2.2 lakh economically weaker households could itself impose a substantial annual financial burden, prompting the government to explore rooftop solar as an alternative.
Under the model being pursued, rooftop solar systems would generate the equivalent electricity for eligible households, combining the NC’s free-power commitment with the Centre’s solar scheme and reducing the recurring subsidy burden.
Agarwal was in Srinagar on Saturday to attend a Seva Setu Abhiyan camp organised under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana at Rajbagh.
He said J&K had made a “good start” in rooftop solar adoption and had recently crossed an initial milestone of 100 MW.
“I am pleased that a good start has been made in Jammu and Kashmir in this direction as well. J&K has recently achieved an initial milestone of 100 megawatts, and once the momentum builds, rapid progress will definitely follow,” he said.
Agarwal said around 50 lakh people across India had benefited from the rooftop solar scheme and expressed confidence that J&K would make faster progress as awareness and participation increased.
He also called for greater private-sector participation in J&K’s renewable-energy sector, saying both public and private players were welcome.
“Public or private, all participants are welcome in the country,” he said, adding that private companies were showing considerable interest in the renewable-energy supply chain.
Agarwal said India had built around 200 GW of solar-module manufacturing capacity and about 37 GW of solar-cell capacity, with the private sector playing a major role.
On J&K’s hydropower potential, he said the Centre was developing several projects on the Chenab through Chenab Valley Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture involving J&K.
“Work on major projects like Ratle, Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Kwar is already underway and progressing very well. We are receiving full cooperation from the J&K administration on these,” he said.
He said discussions were also underway on the Sawalkote hydropower project.
“Currently, discussions are ongoing regarding Sawalkote. We certainly intend to take up work on that project in the near future,” Agarwal said.
He said the projects would contribute to meeting J&K’s electricity needs and supply power to other parts of the country.
Agarwal also visited the Seva Setu Abhiyan camp in Srinagar organised under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
He inspected stalls and help desks and interacted with vendors providing services related to the scheme.
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited Managing Director Mahmood Ahmad Shah briefed him on the implementation of the scheme in the region and measures being taken to facilitate access to rooftop solar services.
The camp is aimed at increasing public awareness, facilitating citizen-centric services and promoting rooftop solar among consumers.
