Bengaluru: While the state government is still in talks with various international agencies to replace power consuming street lights with LED lights, the BBMP seems to have made a head start by distributing LED bulbs across the city. As part of a special awareness drive, the state government has instructed Bescom to give away 100 LED bulbs for free at each of the 198 wards. BBMP officials are now distributing free LED bulbs in slums, EWS quarters and similar areas.
Commenting on the need to create awareness, Mayor Manjunath Reddy said that energy-efficient lights were vital in reducing power bills. “The drive aims to reduce the use of power-guzzling lights and promote energy-efficient lights. Understanding this need, even the BBMP has decided to switch to LED bulbs.
The Malaysia government-owned UDA Holdings Berhad has proposed to install LED streetlights on all arterial roads and flyovers free of cost,” he said. Mr Reddy said that the BBMP is paying Rs 12 crore towards electricity bills every month and with LED lights, it can be brought down drastically.
“The firm has also recommended that revenue to BBMP will increase and the revenue generated through advertisement hoardings will be shared equally by the company and the BBMP,” he added.
EESL sells 2.71L bulbs in city
At a time when experts have hinted that switching to LED bulbs will become inevitable for the city, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) on the other hand, is leaving no stone unturned to promote LED bulbs.
Apart from selling bulbs at Bescom billing centres, it is ensuring that BengaluruOne service centres too are stocked to sell maximum number of bulbs. The EESL has predicted that the state may need 6 crore bulbs, while the city alone would need 2 crore LED bulbs.
BESCOM sells it at low price
BESCOM, in association with Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, has been adopting various measures to promote the use of LED bulbs. Apart from selling bulbs at subsidised rates, the agency is putting up stalls at Cubbon Park, Bengaluru One Centres and other public areas to increase the awareness about the benefits of LED bulbs. The Corporation has sold 9 watt LED bulbs at Rs 100 per bulb
