Installation of solar panels to be mandatory for high rises

The government has decided to make mandatory installation of solar panels in case of highrise buildings having more than 10 floors in Dhaka and other major cities in a bid to ease the nagging power crisis.
At the same time, in view of the dwindling groundwater levels, construction of safe and suitable water reservoirs on rooftops of the highrises would be ensured to harvest rainwater. The planning ministry has already issued a circular in this regard.
An official of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the authority in charge of development of capital Dhaka, told BSS that they heard about the circular of the planning ministry, but yet to get specific directives in this regard.
The circular has reached the work ministry and Rajuk would take necessary measures after getting directives from the ministry, said Sheikh Abdul Mannan, Rajuk director for development and control. He said the issue of installing solar panels and rainwater reservoirs is not currently included in Rajuk’s building code. It would be included in the building code, if the ministry orders so, he added. Mannan said the provision of installing lifts is a must for construction of multistoried buildings above six floors in Dhaka. This issue has already been incorporated in Rajuk’s building code. From now on, Housing and Public Works Ministry sources said, the concerned people or organisations in Dhaka and Chittagong cities will have to mention the provisions for installation of solar panels and water reservoirs in the designs of their buildings to get those approved by the authorities.
No design would be approved for the highrises without the provisions for solar panels and rainwater reservoirs. The sources said the installation of solar panels on highrises would ease the persistent pressure on electricity. Besides, the solar energy panel technology is environment- friendly.
Meanwhile, the concerned people are realising the necessity of using rainwater in view of the dwindling groundwater levels in Dhaka and other major cities. According to sources, the circular of the planning ministry to secretaries of all ministries and divisions has mentioned the necessity of using solar energy. If the highrise buildings could generate electricity of their own through the solar panels, the circular said, it would reduce pressure on the national grid.
According to sources, in view of the fall of groundwater level in Dhaka city, the authorities are planning to build reservoirs in different areas of the city to preserve rainwater. Building the reservoirs in highrises is also being considered important.
As a result, the government has decided that the highrise buildings in both the public and private sectors would have to construct water reservoirs in future.

Courtesy of BSS, Dhaka