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The Local Government Division has directed the installation of solar power systems at all local government facilities, haats and markets by January 31.
The division sent letters to administrators and upazila executive officers of upazila parishads across the country on Thursday, September 24.
The ministry said the move is part of the government’s efforts to expand renewable energy and ensure sustainable energy security.
Under the directive, solar systems must be installed based on the roof area of permanent sheds at haats and markets. Solar panels should also be installed on four- to five-storey buildings constructed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at different markets.
Any surplus electricity generated after meeting the facilities’ own needs should be supplied to the national grid, the directive said.
The division also instructed authorities to install rooftop solar systems with batteries at existing main and subordinate office buildings of departments, agencies and institutions under the Local Government Division at local, district and upazila levels.
Earlier, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said the government planned to install solar panels on the rooftops of 6,544 local government institutions.
The government has allocated Tk370 crore for the programme, with a target of generating around 300 megawatts of electricity.
The institutions include councils, municipalities, union parishads, LGED offices, WASA and public health facilities, as well as haats, markets and growth centres across the country.
The state minister said separate directives had been issued for the programme and the target was to complete the work by January 27.
