Committee for implementation yet to start holding deliberations
Reduction of energy use in Govt buildings still a dream
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 8: Though it was made applicable about two and half years back yet the Energy Conservation Act is yet to be implemented in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir mainly because of slackness on the part of the Power Development Department. Moreover, a committee comprising two dozen officers which was assigned the task of implementing the Act as well as Energy Conservation Building Code Rules has yet not started holding deliberations on its Terms of References.
The Energy Conservation Act was enacted by the Parliament on September 29, 2001 for efficient use of energy and its conservation but the same could not be extended to Jammu and Kashmir because of its special status. This law became applicable to J&K after abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent extension of all Central Laws.
However, despite lapse of about two and half years the implementation of Act has not been started mainly because of slackness on the part of Power Development Department and other concerned agencies, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “due to inordinate delay in implementation of the Energy Conservation Act and Energy Conservation Building Code Rules, the much-needed reduction of energy use in the Government buildings has remained a distant dream”.
After deep slumber, the Government vide Order No.329-JK(GAD) dated March 28, 2022 constituted a committee in terms of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and Energy Conservation Building Code Rules, 2018 for implementation and enforcement of Energy Conservation Building Code and Eco-Niwas Samhitta in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite this step, the implementation has yet not started because the committee headed by Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department and assisted by Administrative Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department and comprising two dozen officers has failed to start holding deliberations on the Terms of Reference till date, sources informed.
“We have not received any notice regarding the meeting of the committee as such we are not in a position to specify when the implementation of the Act and Energy Conservation Building Code will be started”, some members of the committee said on the condition of anonymity. They, however, said that the Energy Conservation Building Code which was developed by the Government of India for new commercial buildings on 27th May 2007 is aimed to provide minimum requirements for energy-efficient design and construction of buildings and their systems.
Among the benefits to arise from energy efficiency investments in buildings are—reducing energy use for space heating and/or cooling and water heating; reduced electricity use for lighting, office machinery and domestic type appliances; lower maintenance requirements; improved comfort and enhanced property value.
Due to slackness on the part of the committee no headway has so far been made on promoting energy conservation and energy efficiency in the commercial buildings or establishments, sources further said, adding “the committee is also supposed to forward its recommendations to the Energy Conservation Bureau for developing and revising energy consumption standards for buildings, in terms of energy performance index, zone-wise, composite, temperate and cold climatic zones, classification wise”.
“Only some programmes have been organized to generate awareness about energy conservation building code and procedure for erection of code compliant building”, sources said, adding “there is absolutely no headway on promoting construction of energy efficient buildings ensuring quality and consistency in their constructions having regard to the climatic conditions and needs of the building projects”.
Moreover, no step has so far been initiated for promoting capacity building of building professionals, developers and contractors to promote energy efficient designs of buildings in close coordination with jurisdictional authorities. “If the Government really wants to implement the Energy Conservation Act and Energy Conservation Building Code Rules it should ensure that the committee starts holding deliberations on the Terms of References without further loss of time”, sources stressed.
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