Udupi: A gazette notification made by the government in 2007 making it mandatory for all houses of 600 square feet and above located in 1200 square feet land, to have solar water heaters, is now facing opposition.

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission had issued this notification on the grounds that it would be difficult to meet the high demand for electricity during morning hours with people simultaneously switching  on geysers and boilers.

However, the notification had no mention of installing solar lamps as they do not help in conserving much electricity.

Satyanarayana Udupa, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangha has said the Sangha  has requested for an exemption to the coastal district from the rule as purchasing solar water heater for as much as Rs 30,000 was a costly affair that too for use during six months in a year. He said  people here do not use hot water during three months of summer, while there is no sunshine during monsoons, when solar water heater  proves useless.