Last date for installing solar panels extended to June 30

CHANDIGARH: Giving a last opportunity to the residents, the UT Administration today extended the deadline for installing solar plants by six months.

Giving a last opportunity to the residents, the UT Administration today extended the deadline for installing solar plants by six months.

Sources said Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore approved a Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) proposal to extend the deadline, which ended on November 17, by another six months.

This is the second time the Administration has extended the deadline. Now, residents can install rooftop solar power plants till June 30.

Sources said while approving the proposal the UT Administrator made it clear that no more extension would be given to residents.

An official of the UT Estate Office said those failing to install solar power plants by the given date would be served house resumption notice.

In a notification issued on May 18, 2016, the UT Administration had made installation of rooftop solar power plants mandatory in houses and commercial and industrial units measuring 500 sq yards and above as well as in group housing societies. While solar plants were mandatory in new houses, the owners of the existing houses were earlier given two years to comply with the direction. 

Sources said there were 7,500 residential, commercial and industrial units in the city which have to follow the direction. But only half of the houses have installed solar plants so far. 

The UT Administration has fixed a target of generating 50 MW by 2022. It is providing subsidy on installation of solar panels. 

Deadline had ended on Nov 17

• In a notification issued on May 18, 2016, the UT Administration had made installation of rooftop solar power plants mandatory in houses and commercial and industrial units measuring 500 sq yards and above as well as in group housing societies.
• The owners of the existing houses were intially given two years to comply with the direction.
• The deadline was later extended to November 17 this year.
• There are 7,500 residential, commercial and industrial units in the city which have to follow the direction.
• However, solar power panels have come up only on half of these establishments so far.

Source: The Tribune