The draft plan for converting Chandigarh into a ‘solar city’ has been finalised by the Chandigarh Administration. The plan was discussed during a meeting between officials of the Administration and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on Tuesday.

Now, the plan will be submitted to UT Administrator General (retd) SF Rodrigues for approval. After that it will be forwarded to the Centre for the final nod.

The draft report submitted by TERI has recommended energy efficiency measures for 20 per cent of the residential and commercial sectors of the city The project will be funded by the Government of India, with a matching grant by the Administration or the Municipal Corporation, depending on who takes up the project as the Nodal Agency.

According to the draft plan, finalised by the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) and the Department of Science and Technology, certain changes have been recommended for commercial, residential and government buildings.

“After a long analysis, we have eventually finalised our plan for the solar city project. We have enlisted our recommendations, which were corroborated by TERI representatives in a meeting today. Since TERI also recommended the same changes, the plan stands final and will be forwarded to the Centre through the UT Administrator,” Manjit Brar, Director of Information Technology, UT Administration, said.

While the short-term impact of energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gases will start showing by 2012, the long-term impact would be visible by 2018.

By 2012, the plan aims at around 10 per cent reduction in the current energy consumption. This reduction is expected to double by 2018.

... contd.