All commercial, institutional and hotel buildings, which use hot water, will have to install a solar water heating system of adequate capacity. The existing buildings which do not have this facility will provide it within one year from the date the orders are notified in the official gazette.

UT Chief Administrator Sanjay Kumar had issued orders regarding amendments in its building bylaws for commercial and residential units on Tuesday. As per rules, the orders will be notified by December 22, 60 days after being issued.

The orders are mandatory for residential buildings as well, constructed on a site of one kanal and above.

While a one kanal house will have to make provision for a solar water heating system with capacity of at least 100 litres, houses constructed on an area of two kanal or above will have to install the same with a minimum capacity of 200 litres. The existing houses are required to provide these facilities within two years from the date the orders are notified in the official gazette, that is December 22.

Talking to Newsline, Sanjay Kumar said: “The issue was under consideration for long and had to be implemented. We have given a timeframe of one year or two years, depending on the category of the premises, keeping in view that in certain houses, senior citizens stay alone. Such people might not be that swift in implementing the provisions. The timeframe will ensure all houses have such systems gradually.”

Meanwhile, in all buildings with toilets or washrooms, dual flushing system of not more than seven liters per western commode (WC) will be mandatory to ensure water conservation. All commercial institutions and non-residential buildings will install the requisite flushing system within two years from the date of issuance of the notification.

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