JOIN USGiven the acute power shortage in Delhi, LED lights can really prove to be an effective energy saving option in the years ahead.
If reports are to be believed, Delhi will soon be lit up with Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights.
In the recently concluded Light India expo at Pragati Maidan, Electric Lamp and Component Manufacturers’ Association of India (ELCOMA), which is the apex body of lighting manufacturers in India, shared this information with Metrolife.
According to Shyam Sujan, secretary general of ELCOMA, “LED light is the best innovation. Earlier compact fluorescent lights (CFL) used to rule our homes and offices, but now LED lights have taken its place because they are eco-friendly, they do not emit carbon dioxide and are power savers as well. The previous government had also planned to have LED streetlights in the city but this government change has delayed the exercise. We are just waiting to have a stable government in Delhi so that we can start this process.”
Sujan also added that maintaining and installing streetlights is a big issue in the country. “The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) did a survey in the entire country where they have found that 80 per cent of the streetlights in the country are installed haphazardly. They do not follow the rules and norms of installing, like keeping proper distance and height,” he said.
Sharing that the organisation also undertakes drives to make people aware of the benefits of installing LED lights, he said, “We also carry awareness drives in various states with their respective PWDs’, corporate sectors, etc and let them know about the benefits of using power-saving lights,” adding, “Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Union Ministry of Power is also working on this issue.”
Reportedly, the process of installing LED streetlights have already been initiated in other parts of the country. According to reports, West Bengal may probably become the first state in the country to switch to LED-based street lights over the next five years as part of an energy conservation drive.
The Andra Pradesh government has also ordered manufacture of six million street lamps to NTL Lemnis Pvt. Ltd.
Prabhleen, Safe Delhi Campaign coordinator of Jagori, an NGO, seconds Sujan in terms of poor maintenence of streetlights in the country.
“The streetlights in Delhi are not maintained at all. And lack of streetlights also increase the chances of women-related crimes. If the government is coming up with this idea, they should also focus on maintaining them. There is also another factor and that while the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in each area can use his funds to install the lamps, but they are not responsible for their maintenence. So, all these factors should be looked into for a safer society.”