Solar energy tapping to be mandatory in Agartala

AGARTALA - In a bid to make Agartala a solar city, the Tripura government has decided to make solar energy tapping provision mandatory in buildings.

“The existing building rules would be modified soon to make solar energy tapping provision mandatory in every building for reducing dependency on conventional energy,” Tripura Science, Technology and Environment Minister Joy Gobinda Debroy told reporters here Monday.

“The proposed compulsory provision would be applicable for both private, government and commercial buildings,” he said.

“Union ministry of non-conventional and renewable energy had decided to make sixty cities across India ’solar cities’ during the next few years, which includes all northeast state capitals.

The necessary survey would be undertaken in Agartala next month to make a detailed project report (DPR) for the solar city plan, the minister added.

The Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), an autonomous body, Sunday held a meeting with senior government officials, engineers, architects, public representatives, businessmen, hotel and restaurant owners, and NGOs to get suggestions.

Senior officials of the solar thermal division under the union ministry of non-conventional and renewable energy were also present in the day-long meeting chaired by the minister.

“To encourage the use of solar energy, there would be relaxations in rules and tax collection systems,” Debroy added.

The minister announced that the government would soon launch a massive campaigning for the use of non-conventional sources of energy in the northeastern state.