Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed the functioning of the Science & Technology Department and called for faster progress in J&K’s shift toward green energy, expansion of renewable infrastructure, and strengthening of science education and research.

Secretary S&T Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, CEO JAKEDA P.N. Dhar and senior officers attended the meeting.
Renewable Energy & Solarisation
The Chief Secretary reviewed ongoing small and mini hydropower initiatives, solarisation of government buildings and the PM-KUSUM scheme, among other clean-energy projects.
Dr Choudhary informed that JAKEDA is working to solarize over 8,000 government buildings with a combined capacity of 245 MW — 70 MW under CAPEX and 175 MW under the RESCO model. Work orders have been issued for 1,300 buildings, while installations completed include a 10 kW unit at TRC Kupwara and a 3 MW plant at the University of Kashmir.
Under PM-KUSUM, all 4,224 applications have been allotted and 3,586 pumps installed, achieving 85% completion. The scheme has improved irrigation reliability, replaced 8.5 million litres of diesel annually, and enabled farmers to save ₹20,000–30,000 per year.
Small & Mini Hydro Projects
The department reported 35.25 MW operational capacity in IPP mode and an overall portfolio of 188.75 MW, including 153.5 MW under development across 81 projects.
Upcoming additions include 4.65 MW in 2026 and 49.70 MW in 2027–28. Once fully developed, the portfolio is expected to generate over ₹110 crore annually and create 1,200 jobs.
Other interventions include deployment of 15,000 biomass cook stoves, 25,000 solar streetlights, a 100 kW floating solar pilot, and new EV charging stations. A 120-day roadmap has been set to retender the remaining RESCO capacity and complete installation of the remaining KUSUM pumps for 100% saturation.
Strengthening Scientific Infrastructure
Reviewing the J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKSTIC), the Chief Secretary was informed that 77 research projects worth ₹775 lakh were approved in 2025 across 20 institutions, covering AI/IoT, agriculture, climate resilience, biotechnology, and energy systems.
Two Industrial Biotech Parks worth ₹84.66 crore are progressing — Kathua is fully complete in civil works, and Handwara is 70% complete and slated for April 2026.
The Sub Regional Science Centre (SRSC) Srinagar has achieved 75% progress, while work on the Science Innovation Dissemination Centre (SIDC) worth ₹2.76 crore began in November 2025.
JKSTIC conducted 120 outreach events, including 42 science competitions and 18 teacher workshops, achieving 99.97% fund utilisation. It awarded 125 scholarships last fiscal and plans 130 this year.
The Chief Secretary urged strict adherence to timelines and measurable outcomes to accelerate J&K’s renewable transition and strengthen its scientific ecosystem.