Hyderabad: Having already distributed two LED bulbs to each of the 1.16 crore households in the State, AP government has now in principle proposed to illuminate the houses of SCs, STs and BCs by distributing up to 5 more LED bulbs at just Rs 10 each.
The government proposes to overcome the subsidy amount on LED bulbs from SC/ST sub plan and other OBC funds. The high-level Central team headed by Energy Efficient Systems Limited (EESL), Government of India, Managing Director Mr Saurabh Kumar met CM Chandrababu Naidu and said AP’s speed in implementing LED project is unmatched in the country.
“No other state in India is giving this much thrust to energy efficiency activities. That is why Government of India has decided to conduct an international workshop on “energy efficient lighting: urban experiences and implementation practices” on April 7 and April 8 at Vijayawada, Mr Saurabh Kumar said.
Energy sector experts from 35 countries including China, Canada, Japan, UK, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, World Bank, AFD & Kfw (German Bank) among others will participate. Government of India will showcase the model of AP LED project and the third party audit showing energy savings through LEDs.
AP energy department principal secretary said that the Chief Minister has directed the officials to ensure that AP becomes a trendsetter in energy efficiency activities by transforming itself as the most environmental-friendly, pollution-free and drought-free state.
“By March 2017, AP should become the first incandescent bulb-free state in India,” Mr Naidu told. He asked principal secretary (Energy) Mr Ajay Jain to prepare an action plan and implement it to achieve this endeavour.
Mr Naidu requested the EESL to become partner in the proposed AP Energy University being set up in Anantapur and bring experts in the field of energy efficiency as consultants.
AP State Energy Conservation Mission CEO A. Chandra Sekhara Reddy said the Chief Minister has decided to launch following projects from the platform of international workshop: Energy efficient fans distribution programme, replacement of 2 lakh inefficient agricultural pumps with energy efficient ones and dedicating LED street light project to the people which is being implemented in 30 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), state wide programme to replace remaining incandescent bulbs with LEDs in a year by providing LED bulbs for all category of consumers.
