Solar energy to be made mandatory in Agartala buildings

"We have decided to make solar energy provision mandatory in buildings to make Agartala a solar city to keep it free from environmental pollution," Science, Technology and Environment Minister Joy Gobinda Debroy said.

The present building rules would be changed to make use of solar energy mandatory in buildings to reduce dependence on conventional energy and make it environment friendly, he said, adding that the rule would be applicable to private, government and commercial buildings.

With the Centre suggesting that northeastern state capitals would be among 60 cities countrywide to use solar energy, Debroy said the state government has started preparing a detailed project report.

Meanwhile, Tripura Natural Gas Co Ltd (TNGCL), a joint venture of the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) and Tripura government, has announced a plan to run all vehicles - government and private - here with CNG by 2013.

CNG will also be available to those now using electricity, petrol and diesel to run machinery in factories.

TNGCL Chairman Pabitra Kar said the company was currently supplying piped natural gas (PNG) to over 7,416 domestic consumers and 155 commercial establishments and industrial units in Agartala and its outskirts, besides hospitals and crematoriums.

He said the company will soon provide PNG connections to 10,000 new domestic consumers here and efforts are on to make Agartala the first green city in India within three years.