NEW DELHI, Jan 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scheme for LED bulb distribution here today under domestic efficient lighting programme and a National Programme for LED-based Home and Street Lighting, describing LED bulb as ‘Prakash Path’–way to light.
The Prime Minister also symbolically replaced one bulb in South Block with an LED bulb.
Replacement of all bulbs in South Block with LED bulbs will enable saving of 7,000 units of energy each month. Mr Modi called for making energy conservation through the spread of LED bulbs a people’s movement pointing out that conserving power was much more economical than producing. He, however, said it was much more difficult to conserve power than to produce it because while one producing entity could produce a large quantity of power, it required active participation of millions of people to conserve that amount of power.
He stressed the importance of generating awareness among people and called for extensive involvement of celebrities and eminent citizens in these programmes to motivate people to adopt LED bulbs.
The Prime Minister said the programmes also represented a challenge to manufacturers to rise to the occasion and produce LED bulbs without compromising on quality. Suggesting innovative ways to generate awareness and spread the message of energy efficiency, Mr Modi said gifts such as diaries and calendars on New Year should be replaced by gifts of LEDs.
Companies could distribute LED bulbs along with dividend payments, he suggested.
The Prime Minister called for setting district-level goals and prioritising the scheme in all towns with a population above one lakh.
He said involvement of entrepreneurs, eminent citizens and common people would be an act of patriotism as it would reduce import bills and save environment. The initiative is a part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country. LED bulbs have a very long life, almost 50 times more than ordinary bulbs and 8-10 times that of CFLs, and, therefore, provide both energy and cost savings in the medium term.
The Prime Minister also launched a web-based system to enable consumers in Delhi to register requests for procuring LED bulbs under ‘Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme’ (DELP).
Consumers can register either through the programme website (www.eeslindia.org/Delhi-Launch) or by sending an SMS to a designated number.
He also handed over two LED bulbs to a common citizen of Delhi who was the first person to register. LED bulbs will be distributed in a phased manner from March and the entire project of installing LED bulbs for domestic and street-lighting in 100 cities is targeted for completion by March 2016.
In Delhi, LED bulbs will be provided to all domestic consumers at an initial payment of Rs 10 each and recovery of Rs 10 each for 12 months from their electricity bill. Hence, the cost for an LED bulb to domestic consumer will be Rs 130 through this programme due to bulk procurement, compared to the current open market retail price in the range of Rs 350-600 for LED bulbs. The estimated annual savings for households in Delhi per LED bulb will be Rs 162.
The LED bulbs will have a warranty of three years. Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan and Power Minister Piyush Goyal were also present. (UNI)
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