Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 16
The UT Administration has decided not to extend the deadline for installation of solar plants in houses, commercial properties and industrial units.
Sources said the decision had been taken after considering various representations of associations. The Administration has taken the decision with the aim of making Chandigarh a model solar city as announced by the Centre. A senior officer said the Administration had already given enough time (two years) to the residents and it could not afford to lag behind on this front any more.
The two-year deadline for installing solar power plants expires on May 18.
The UT Administration, in a notification issued on May 18, 2016, had made installation of rooftop solar power plants mandatory for houses and commercial and industrial units measuring 500 sq yards and above, and for group housing societies. While solar plants were made mandatory in new houses, the owners of the existing ones were given two years to comply with the direction. Sources said there were 7,500 residential, commercial and industrial units measuring 500 sq yards and above where solar plants were to be installed.
Sources said only 550 houses had installed solar plants so far and approximately 1,000 had applied for it. On an average, 40 residents were applying for the installation of solar plants daily. The department received 150 applications on Wednesday. The Administration is providing subsidy to residents for installing the solar plants.
The Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has asked the Estate Office to ensure compliance of the notification. Sources said the Estate Office would start a survey of houses and would issue notices for resumption of plots to those who had failed to comply with the direction.
Babla wants deadline extended
Leader of the Opposition in the MC Devinder Singh Babla on Wednesday wrote to the UT Adviser seeking an extension in the May 18 deadline set by CREST for installing rooftop solar power plants. “There is a sense of uncertainty and panic among residents who have not applied for installation of rooftop solar panels because of some valid reasons such as high cost, no space in old houses and most of them remaining non-functional after being installed,” said the Congress leader.