In a step towards making Chandigarh a model solar city, the Administration is all set to issue a notification soon to make rooftop solar photovoltaic power plants mandatory for all buildings in the city.
Sources said UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki had approved amendments to the building bylaws for the purpose and these had been sent to the Legal Department for vetting before issuing a notification.
The new amendments will cover all types of buildings, including residential, commercial, government and semi-government establishments and those belonging to institutional bodies. All new housing complexes and housing societies will also be covered under the new regulation.
The sources said under the proposal, while installing solar plants would be mandatory in new buildings, two years would be given to the owners of existing buildings for making the provision.
According to the proposal, residential buildings on area less than 100 sq yards will be exempted from the provision. After the notification, no approval will be required from the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation or the Estate Office for the installation of a solar power panel.
The height of the module structure carrying solar panels shall not be counted towards the total height of the building as permitted under the building bylaws, except near the airport where building regulations issued by the Airports Authority of India take precedence.
The sources said though Chandigarh was declared a model solar city five years ago, residents were not showing much interest in offering the rooftops of their houses for installation of solar energy panels. Despite the concession, people were still skeptical about its use.
The department has installed solar power plants at various government buildings, including the jail, schools and community centres which are saving on their electricity bills.
Sources said the step had been taken on the directions of UT Adviser Parimal Rai, who had asked the department to speed up the process for turning Chandigarh into a model solar city after he was given a presentation.