Their unique architecture gives mosques in Kashmir Valley a place in the sun

Sub: History

Sec: Art and Culture

Context:

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government has initiated a project aimed at generating renewable energy in the Kashmir Valley by utilizing the multi-tiered roofs of mosques.
It will help reduce power cuts that are a persistent issue in the region.
This initiative is part of the larger PM Surya Ghar (Sun House) Muft Bijli Yojana, a free electricity scheme.

Role of Mosques:

Mosques in Kashmir typically feature wide roof surfaces which can be effectively utilized for installing rooftop solar panels.
Each mosque can generate between 3 KW and 5 KW of electricity through solar energy.
However, mosque caretakers have expressed reluctance to adopt solar panels due to low government subsidies.

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

The Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a domestic rooftop solar initiative aimed at promoting renewable energy usage by providing free or subsidized electricity to households through solar energy systems.
The scheme was first announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Interim Budget 2024-25.
The scheme aims to supply solar power to one crore households by March 2027.
The scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40 percent to households. Households can apply for the subsidy through the National Portal.
Households will have access to collateral-free, low-interest loans at around 7% interest for the installation of residential rooftop solar (RTS) systems up to 3 kW.

Model Solar Village:

Under the “Model Solar Village” component of the scheme, the focus is on establishing one Model Solar Village per district throughout India to promote solar energy adoption and empower village communities to achieve energy self-reliance.
To qualify as a candidate village, it must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states).