Over 1.4 million LED bulbs distributed in Haryana under UJALA

CHANDIGARH: More than 1.4 million LED bulbs have been distributed in Haryana under the 'Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All' (UJALA) scheme since its launch in the state on March 11 this year.

Apart from this, 5,754 LED bulbs have also been distributed in 36 villages of the state under the ‘Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon’ scheme, a spokesman for the state’s power department said here on Thursday.

According to the spokesperson, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture between public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the power ministry, is distributing about 50,000 LED bulbs every day in the state.

He said the scheme is being implemented in operation circles of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Hisar, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Sonipat, Karnal, Panipat, Rewari, Narnaul, Sirsa and Rohtak. UJALA LED bulbs are currently available in the sub divisional offices (SDOs) of DISCOMs. The list of the offices is available on the national UJALA dashboard www.delp.in, he said.

The spokesperson said that more than 20 million LED bulbs are to be distributed under the UJALA scheme in the state. The programme is being implemented by EESL.

Under the scheme, 9W LED bulbs are available for an upfront payment of Rs 75 per bulb with a technical warranty of three years. An LED bulb has a life expectancy of 25,000 hours. Consumers can buy up to 10 LED bulbs under this scheme.

Only regular payee consumers can buy a maximum of four LED bulbs with EMI option and additional LED bulbs can be purchased with upfront payment. In the EMI option, consumers have to pay Rs 10 per bulb as upfront cost and remaining cost will be recovered in nine equal installments as per their respective billing cycle, he said.

The spokesperson said that under the scheme, bulbs are being made available at a fourth of the market price. A 9W LED bulb has a market price of about Rs 300. He said each LED bulb helps a consumer save between Rs 160 and Rs 400 every year, thus making the cost recovery in less than a year. The LED bulbs being distributed under the UJALA scheme are of superior quality with a total failure rate of just 0.31 per cent, he said.

The official said that EESL will also provide free of cost replacement for all technical faults for three years. During the distribution period, replacements can be carried out through any of the distribution counters operating within the city. After distribution ends, retail stores would be designated where the replacements could be done.