Over 5.60 lakh smart meters in 2 yrs; free 200 units only for AAY families tied to rooftop solar plants
Arteev Sharma
Jammu: Amid a growing political storm over the installation of pre-paid smart meters across Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling National Conference-led government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that a total of 9,32,648 smart meters have been installed across the Union Territory so far.
The disclosure comes at a time when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been facing sharp criticism from opposition parties, including BJP and PDP, for defending the move, which, they alleged, was a “complete reversal” of his election promises.
According to official data shared in the Assembly, as many as 5, 61,480 smart meters, including 3,75,664 in Jammu and 1,85,811 in Kashmir, have been installed during the last two years alone.
The overall installation stood at 62.26 per cent of the government’s target to achieve 100 per cent smart metering by March 2026, under which 14.97 lakh meters are to be installed in total.
“A total of 9, 32,648 smart meters, including 6, 52,292 under the Prime Minister Development Programme (PMDP) and 2, 80,356 under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), have been installed in Jammu and Kashmir. This includes 4,80,030 in the Jammu region and 4,52,618 in the Kashmir Valley,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Power Development Department (PDD) portfolio, said in response to a query by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para.
The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that there was no proposal to privatise installation, maintenance and management aspects of Smart Meters in J&K.
Defending the government’s initiative, Omar recently reiterated that smart meters were essential for ensuring an uninterrupted and equitable power supply across the Union Territory.
“Meters are the best solution for an uninterrupted electricity supply. The more meters we install, the less electricity curtailment people will face, and the government will be able to supply more electricity. We are committed to achieving full coverage and 24×7 electricity for consumers,” Omar had said.
The Chief Minister even quipped that his own relatives, including his “aunties,” had installed smart meters, highlighting his belief that no one should be exempt from the move.
The remark, however, provided fresh ammunition to opposition leaders. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma (BJP) mocked him while dubbing Omar as “Aunty Sarkar,” saying the Chief Minister had equated the privileged lifestyles of his “millionaire aunties” with those of ordinary citizens struggling under rising power bills.
Similarly, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone accused the Chief Minister of “lying through his teeth” over his pre-poll promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to households.
“This is no longer about free electricity. This is about the Chief Minister lying through his teeth. The comparison between his pre- and post-election statements about smart meters digitally nails his deception,” Lone said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Omar clarified that the promise of 200 free units remained intact and would be implemented under the PM Surya Ghar–Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY) through a RESCO/Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model.
“The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has given in-principle approval for the ULA model. Rooftop solar systems of 2 kW capacity each are proposed for 2,22,564 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households. Once commissioned, these systems will provide up to 200 units of free electricity per month,” he informed the Assembly.
The Chief Minister added that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and the tendering process were underway through respective DISCOMs, with the delay attributed to “procedural timelines” necessary for ensuring the scheme’s long-term sustainability.
“This model ensures a sustainable and financially viable mechanism for providing electricity benefits without adversely impacting DISCOMs’ revenue,” he said.
