In yet another major development on the Energy Efficiency (EE) front, the Andhra Pradesh government has in principle proposed to distribute five more LED Bulbs to each SC/ST/BC families for improving their living standards and save considerable amounts in their electricity bills. The five bulbs are proposed to be made available @ Rs 10 each and the balance cost of the Bulbs is to be borne by the State government from the SC/ST Sub-Plan funds and other welfare funds available to BCs.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who emphasized the need for the fruits of energy conservation to reach the common consumer, directed Ajay Jain, Principal Secretary, (Energy, I&I, CRDA) to workout modalities for implementation of the program, apart from achieving 100% coverage of LED bulb distribution i.e. 2.32 crore bulbs to 1.16 crore households from the already completed quantum of 1.85 crore LED bulbs, which is expected not only to achieve substantial energy savings but also economic benefit of consumers.
“Implement AP Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment program vigorously to ensure that every household makes use of energy efficient equipment like ceiling fans, refrigerators, geysers, air-conditioners, washing machines, lighting systems and so on at reasonable price and to create wide ranging awareness among the people by setting up of district level information centers.
“We want to become trendsetter in Energy Efficiency and wish to transform the State as the most environmental friendly, Pollution free & drought free. By March 2017 we want to declare AP as the first Incandescent Bulb free state in India”, the Hon’ble CM said while unveiling his vision for the State on the Energy sector front.
During the meeting with Govt. of India team which has visited AP to study the success story of energy efficiency in the context of Centre having set a target of reducing 21,500 MW electricity demand worth Rs.40,000 Crores by using LED bulbs and energy savings per annum in India, the CM has requested head of the team Sri. Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Services Limited, GoI, to become a partner in the proposed AP Energy University being set up in Anantapur, by bringing prominent professionals and experts of Global level in the field of Energy Efficiency as Consultants who can share their best practices.
“No other state in India is giving this much thrust to EE activities and many countries have recognized the tangible results of EE in AP and enthused to provide best practices in the field of LED lighting programme. The speed and scale with which the EE projects are being implemented under the able guidance of the Chief Minister are unprecedented,” said MD/EESL.
That is why Govt of India has decided to conduct International Workshop exclusively on “Energy Efficient Lighting: Urban Experiences and Implementation Practices” during 7th-8th April 2016, at Vijayawada. While inviting the Chief Minster Sri N.Chandrababu Naidu for the said workshop, MD/EESL informed that a large number of delegates from 35 countries including China, Canada, Japan, UK, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, World Bank, AFD & Kfw(German Bank) etc., are going to participate and is expected to show case the Energy Efficiency initiatives of AP.
At the meeting, it was decided by the Chief Minister to launch the following programs during the workshop. They are: Launching of energy efficient fans national program covering the entire AP; Launching of replacement of two lakh inefficient agricultural pumps with energy efficient and smart agricultural pumps, covering all villages in the State. Dedication of all smart streetlights to the people using LED Street Lights project, completed in 30 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), using the centralised control and monitoring system (CCMS). Launching of a Statewide initiative to replace all the remaining incandescent bulbs with LEDs within a year by providing LED bulbs for all categories of consumers. (NSS)