EESL agrees to support AP Govt’s LED lighting programme

Hyderabad, Nov 17 (INN): Impressed with the positive response on DSM based Efficient Lighting Program (DELP) in Domestic sector and potentiality of energy efficiency activities in Andhra Pradesh, the EESL Government of India, a joint venture of Central public undertakings i.e. NTPC, PGCIL, PFC & REC etc, have agreed in principle to support and invest in energy efficiency & conservation measures in Municipalities/Corporations across the state, which paves the way for ensuring at least 50% of energy savings.

Accordingly, the State Government is contemplating to implement pilot project in Hindupur, Gudur, Vizianagaram & Visakhapatnam for replacement of existing inefficient sodium/mercury vapor lamps with energy efficient LED street lighting system.

While disclosing these details, Municipal Administration & Urban Development Principal Secretary D. Sambasiva Rao, who has appraised the benefits of the above LED system to Municipal Administration Minister Dr. P.Narayana, has reviewed the proposed scheme with Sri Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy and other senior municipal officers today and stated that after successful implementation of proposed pilot project the same can be extended to all parts of the state, for the benefit of Municipalities/Corporations financially by way of reduced electricity bills.

The MA&UD Department which has initiated several measures towards providing drinking water, proper sanitation, town planning and infrastructure development including beautification of parks and other amenities, hopes that installation of LED systems in Municipalities and Corporations will ensure multifold benefits for the general public in urban areas, Sambasiva Rao said.

As per the suggestion of Principal Secretary, Energy Secretary Ajay Jain has constituted a committee as follows for finalizing the agreement between EESL and Municipalities for implementation of energy efficiency measures in street lighting in municipal corporations and municipalities in the state. The committee constituted by the GoAP, comprises of following officials: Sourabh Kumar, MD/EESL, GoI, New Delhi; H.Y. Dora, CMD, APSPDCL, Tirupathi; A. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, CEO/SECM, Government of AP and Dr. P. Panduranga Rao, Engineer –in- Chief , Public Health

The above committee is going to meet on Tuesday at Visakhapatnam, where around 12,000 LED street lights have been installed/erected by EESL on emergency and war footing basis, in place of damaged sodium/mercury vapor street lights due to recent devastation caused by Hudhud cyclone. The committee will carry out the detailed study & workout the modalities for entering the agreement between EESL and municipalities on implementation of the scheme in about 80 Municipalities & Municipal corporations in the State and submit the report to the Government shortly.

It is pertinent to note that, the Energy Secretary has recently addressed a letter to Sri P.K. Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Power, GoI, New Delhi in which he has sought the support of EESL to help in installation of new LED street lights for rebuilding the infrastructure and ensuring to install energy efficient street lights in line with the policy commitment of state Government Further Sri Ajay Jain has requested Secretary, MoP for issuing necessary directions to EESL for taking up this work on emergency basis and to ensure that the time lines indicated are adhered for expediting the overall rehabilitation work of Vizag in city. Sri Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy said that with the integrated efforts of state Government, the momentum gained in Energy Efficiency & Conservation measures in the State.