CHANDIGARH: Decks have been cleared for the installation of solar panels on all houses above 250 square yards (10 marla) in the city as the UT urban planning department has given an approval to Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technologies Promotion Society (CREST) to go ahead with the move. Earlier, mandatory solar installations were limited to houses having a plot size of 500 square yards (1 kanal) and above.
Empowered to make decisions and proceed with the implementation, CREST has begun preparing and finalising procedures in coordination with relevant departments of the Chandigarh administration.
CREST has identified a total of 4,552 houses throughout Chandigarh that do not have solar panels on their rooftops. The estate office will collaborate with CREST to develop an action plan and related procedures. A meeting between CREST and estate office officials is scheduled soon. The implementation will follow the Model Building Bylaws 2016, approved by the Union ministry of urban development.
In its communication to CREST, the urban planning department said, “In this regard, it is to inform that earlier notification for mandatory installation of solar photovoltaic power plant for a minimum plot size of 500 square yards was done by your department. Further action for reducing the area up to 250 square yards is also related to your office. Accordingly, further decision in this regard has to be taken by your office in consultation with the estate department of the Chandigarh administration.”
Unlike regulations for 500 square yard properties, CREST is considering flexible criteria for solar panel sizes on 250 square yard houses. Property owners will have discretion regarding installation size. Due to smaller rooftop areas, residents can choose panel sizes based on available space.
Currently, solar panels are mandatory for houses having a plot size of 500 square yards and above in Chandigarh. As per UT records, approximately 1,800 houses out 6,408 houses in 500 square yard and above category have installed solar panels on their rooftops. The estate office had issued resumption notices to non-compliant properties. Though some residents have moved Punjab and Haryana high court on this issue, the Chandigarh administration has told the court about the need to install solar panels on rooftops of houses.
Over 2,850 out of 5,545 eligible govt houses in the city are now fully equipped with solar panels to date, and they have started solar energy generation. Work is ongoing for 1,091 houses, whilst tenders for the remaining 1,600 will be allocated shortly. Additionally, 110 government schools have 6-megawatt solar installations, generating 6.9 MU against 6.1 MU usage, contributing to surplus energy. Chandigarh currently generates over 68-megawatt solar energy.
Source Homevior.in
