Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, chaired a high-level meeting on July 24 to discuss the draft Commercial Rooftop Solar Policy under the UT’s Commercial Solar Scheme. The meeting aimed to formulate effective strategies to promote decentralized and clean energy generation through rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Ladakh’s commercial sector.

The concerned department gave a detailed presentation outlining the core features of the draft policy. The proposed scheme focuses on extending financial and operational support to commercial category consumers for adopting grid-connected solar PV systems.

Key components presented included the policy’s objectives, consumer segmentation, system capacity limits, energy accounting, eligibility criteria, projected consumer growth, and subsidy allocation trends. It also covered important details on metering mechanisms, a generation guarantee clause, required documentation for subsidy claims, and system commissioning procedures.

During discussions, Dr. Kotwal stressed the need for a streamlined and inclusive framework to maximize solar energy adoption. He proposed a “first come, first served” approach for beneficiary selection, rather than rigid eligibility conditions that may hinder participation.

He also recommended aligning the policy with national initiatives like PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and emphasized onboarding only verified and serious applicants.

Addressing procurement concerns, Dr. Kotwal questioned whether the policy mandates the use of Made-in-India solar panels and advocated for vendors with ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) certification and proven performance records.

Highlighting the evolving nature of renewable energy systems and policies, he urged the department to incorporate flexibility without compromising implementation standards.

He further directed officials to prioritize functional rooftops and genuine commercial entities, simplify application and verification processes, and promote carbon neutrality in the region.

Dr. Kotwal underscored that the initiative should benefit both the people and the environment, aligning with Ladakh’s broader sustainable development goals.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner/Secretary Finance, Shri Laltinkhuma Franklin; IAS Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department & NRE, Shri Vikram Singh Malik; Chief Engineer (Generation), UT Ladakh; Superintending and Executive Engineers from PDD; Project Directors of LREDA and KREDA; Presidents of ALGHA (Leh) and AKTTA (Kargil); and other senior officials from relevant departments.