NDMC Unveils Plan For 100% Solar Power By 2026, Focuses On Civic Upgrades

The New Delhi Municipal Council held its first meeting on Tuesday after the Delhi Assembly elections, setting an ambitious target to make the entire NDMC area fully solar-powered by 2026, along with announcing a series of key civic initiatives.

Speaking at a press conference following the meeting, NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the council is committed to offering matching subsidies alongside central government incentives to promote widespread solar panel installation.

“We aim to install solar panels on every rooftop within the NDMC jurisdiction. A final decision on this will be taken in the next council meeting. Our goal is to make NDMC self-reliant in power generation by 2026,” Chahal stated.

In addition to the solar initiative, the council has expanded its night-sweeping programme—initially piloted in Khan Market—to five more areas. Chahal warned that private agencies failing to meet their contractual obligations for cleanliness would face strict action, and a dedicated committee will soon be formed to identify and rectify operational gaps.

Council members also pledged to oversee the Summer Action Plan, which will prioritise rainwater harvesting and other measures to prevent water logging as monsoon season approaches.

A renewed anti-encroachment drive and efforts to address employee grievances were also on the agenda. NDMC member Anil Valmiki stressed that staff issues would be addressed regularly in future meetings to ensure efficient functioning.

The meeting also saw newly elected NDMC members take an oath. BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who won the New Delhi Assembly seat, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Virender Singh Kadian, elected from Delhi Cantonment, were sworn in by Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj, who also serves as an NDMC member.

The NDMC council includes a chairman, official and non-official members, and elected representatives. Non-official members are nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs for five-year terms, while elected members include the New Delhi MP, MLA, and Delhi Cantonment MLA.

Following the meeting, Verma’s office released a statement outlining additional plans to strengthen civic infrastructure. These include laying 9,000 new water connections across 34 identified clusters, aiming to benefit over 47,000 residents within the next six months. NDMC is also working on strategies to procure cheaper electricity to reduce the burden of high power bills on residents.

Addressing the recurring issue of water logging, Chahal said the civic body would soon acquire new machinery to tackle flooding in vulnerable areas. He added that a comprehensive anti-encroachment drive will be rolled out alongside efforts to bring the entire NDMC area under CCTV surveillance to enhance public safety.