Chandigarh 05/06/2008
The city is all set to tap solar energy in a big way, with plans afoot to make it mandatory for one kanal and bigger houses to go in for solar water heating systems, an idea which could be eventually extended to generation of solarpowered residential and commercial units. The UT administration would take a final decision on these two proposals after getting a detailed report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on ways to make Chandigarh the first solar city of the country by 2012.Sources in the Department of Science and Technology said the TERI report is expected in seven months from now. “The idea of making city residents use solar water heating system has been discussed at different levels, but no decision is final before the TERI recommendations are out,” said an official. This could be achieved only by making buildings in such a way that their architecture makes provision for installation of solar systems to make the best of solar exposure.The IT Vision 2012 document prepared by department says “Chandigarh a front runner in the use of green and clean energy and to bring benefits of green energy to every walk of life.” PJS Dadhwal, additional director, department of science and technology, said introduction of LPG-run autos, de-silting of Sukhna Lake and the Metro Rail project were all aimed at protecting the environment. Advisor to the UT administrator, Pradip Mehra, said he had directed the administration to start preparation for making Chandigarh a solar city.