Solar energy target a tough task in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: While the UT administration is putting its best efforts to promote installation of solar plants to replace it with other energy sources, but the desired results are still far from reality.
The administration, in a notification issued on May 18, 2016, had made installation of rooftop solar power plants mandatory in all residential houses measuring 500 square yards and above and group housing societies.
There are around 10,000 such houses in different parts of the city, including Sector 8 which has around 417 houses measuring above 500 square yards, Sector 11 has 493 houses, Sector 33 has 643 houses, Sector 35 has 419 houses and Sector 36 has 417 houses.
Despite extending the deadline twice, with final deadline being June 30, around 55 per cent of the houses have installed solar plants till date. Earlier, the deadline was set for May 6, 2018, but was later extended to November 17, 2018. Finally, the deadline was extended to June 30 this year.
The Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (Crest), the nodal agency for installation of solar plants in Chandigarh, also organized awareness camps with traders, industrialists, residents welfare associations, hoteliers etc.
The ministry of the new and renewable energy had enhanced the city's solar power generation target from 50 megawatt to 69 MW, to be achieved by 2022. The authorities are struggling to meet the target due to shortage of space in the city.