Cold response to solar panels in Chandigarh, admn fails to implement policy

Law mandates all kanal houses to install a solar plant; only 70 of 7,600 houses have done it in a year

More than a year after installation of solar power panels on rooftops was made mandatory for houses of 1 kanal area and above, the Chandigarh administration has failed to ensure implementation.

Solar panels on rooftops of a house in Sector 38, Chandigarh. (Sikander Singh/HT Photo)

Less than 1% (70) of 7,600 houses have installed the equipment for 1 KWH that costs Rs 60,000. However, the owner of the house pays Rs 42,000 with the UT administration providing a subsidy of 30% on installation.

A 1KWH hour power source means that 100-watt light bulb can be operated for 10 hours (equal to four units for traditional power). A kanal house consumes 30 units a day.

The consumer can recover the Rs 42,000 investment, if he uses the panel for six years. The life of the panel is 25 years with cleaning required every 15 days.

“There is a misconception among residents that a solar panel is not viable for the long term. Cheap availability of traditional power means people are non-serious,” said Santosh Kumar, CEO, Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology (CREST).

Interestingly, Chandigarh was declared a model solar city in 2012. Over the past five years, the administration has failed to create awareness and residents have been a uninterested in offering rooftop of their houses for solar energy panels.

Akhil Kaushal, owner of Inter-Solar Systems, a company in the business of installation of these panels, Chandigarh says, “People are not aware and feel that this project is not viable.”

“The UT electricity department does not give its permission, which harasses residents,” claimed Chander Mukhi Sharma, manufacturer of a solar power plant in city.