SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to launch a focused solarisation drive across organised industrial estates, leveraging central MSME schemes to convert idle rooftops into productive, power-generating assets, enhancing sustainability and energy self-reliance in the region.
Highlighting rooftop solarisation as a transformative infrastructure initiative, FCIK, in a statement issued here, has urged leveraging the Integrated Infrastructure Development (IID) component of the Micro & Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) of the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to strengthen industrial clusters while advancing sustainable energy.
“By treating rooftop solar systems as a ‘Common Facility’ for organised industrial estates, up to 60 percent of the project cost can be funded by the Government of India,” noted FCIK, adding that aligning this support with the J&K Industrial Policy 2021–30, which already provides 100 percent subsidy for alternative power solutions such as generators, would significantly ease the financial burden on the government exchequer.
FCIK underscored that solarisation of industrial rooftops is not merely an environmental measure but a strategic fiscal and structural intervention. It would significantly reduce the burden of power subsidy borne by the Government, curb Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses by promoting localized generation and consumption within industrial estates, and contribute to additional power generation within J&K itself.
“By producing power at the point of consumption, the initiative would effectively act as import substitution, reducing dependence on power procured from outside and strengthening energy self-reliance”, stated FCIK.
While elaborating on the MSE-CDP, FCIK stated that the scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at strengthening the productivity and competitiveness of Micro and Small Enterprises through cluster-based development and creation of shared infrastructure. Under its Infrastructure Development component, financial assistance of 60 percent is available for the establishment and up-gradation of common facilities that benefit multiple units within an industrial cluster.
FCIK emphasised that rooftop solar installations in organised industrial estates are fully aligned with this mandate, as they constitute a shared infrastructure asset serving all units in the cluster while simultaneously reinforcing the core industrial ecosystem.
FCIK has lauded the Kashmir Small Scale Industrial Association (KSSIA), Bagh-i-Ali Mardan Khan, Srinagar, a constituent of FCIK, for taking proactive lead by engaging the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, to prepare detailed project report for a rooftop solar power system as a common facility for the industrial estate.
FCIK expressed satisfaction that the Ministry of MSME has agreed in principle to the proposal and sought confirmation from KPDCL regarding power off-take and the operational framework. With KPDCL having conveyed its consent, the matter has now been taken up by the MSME branch with Industries & Commerce Department Kashmir for preparation of the final Detailed Project Report in accordance with MSE-CDP guidelines for submission to the State Level Steering Committee under the IID component.
FCIK has strongly recommended that the solarisation of Bagh-i-Ali Mardan Khan Industrial Estate be adopted as a “test case” under the IID provision and urged the Deputy Chief Minister to direct the concerned authorities to act at the earliest.
“Once successfully implemented, the DPR model and operational framework can be replicated across other organised industrial estates in Jammu & Kashmir, unlocking the enormous rooftop potential available across hundreds of industrial units”, observed FCIK.
The Federation emphasized that this initiative will promote green and sustainable industrial growth, reduce dependence on diesel generators, improve reliability and quality of power supply for MSMEs, and significantly ease the fiscal pressure on the UT Government through convergence of central funding.
Simultaneously, it will help rationalize subsidy outgo, reduce AT&C losses, enhance local power generation capacity, and align J&K’s industrial development strategy with national renewable energy goals.