Parliament committee orders fresh solar survey within 48 hours

A parliamentary committee has ordered a fresh technical survey within 48 hours after expressing dissatisfaction with the feasibility study and development project proposal for installing solar panels at the National Parliament House.

The committee also directed authorities to bring all lights in the Parliament complex under sensor control by November 30 to reduce electricity waste.

The decisions were taken at the committee's third meeting on Sunday, chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal at the Parliament House.

During the meeting, representatives of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) presented a 3D plan for installing solar panels at the Parliament Secretariat. Discussions covered the Secretariat's electricity demand, the central air-conditioning system and available spaces suitable for solar panel installation.

The committee, however, found the proposed development project proposal and technical assessment unsatisfactory and instructed the authorities to conduct another survey within 48 hours. The revised report will be presented at the committee's next meeting, scheduled for December 18.

The committee also directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to install and activate a separate sub-meter at the Sonali Bank branch inside the Parliament complex by November 30. Separate sub-meters will also be installed for commercially used LED lighting.

In another decision, the committee formed a subcommittee to examine the allocation, agreement and management of Tk 13.95 crore spent on the Farhan Faiyaz playground in the Parliament complex, which was allocated for use by persons with disabilities under the Ministry of Social Welfare.

The subcommittee will be coordinated by committee members Md Ashraf Uddin and Mardia Momtaz, with representatives from the Parliament Secretariat, PWD and officials from the ministries of Social Welfare and Youth and Sports. It has been asked to submit a report at the next meeting.

The meeting also discussed the use and management of the PWD Sports Club filling station. The committee raised objections to reconsidering the agreement between the lessor and lessee associated with the Parliament Members' Club and decided to inform the Speaker about the matter immediately.

Committee members Md Ashraf Uddin, Lutfullahil Majed, Md Saiful Alam and Mardia Momtaz attended the meeting, along with officials from the Parliament Secretariat, DPDC and PWD.

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