Ticking off the Shiv Sena which alleged a scam in the installation of LED lights on Mumbai’s streets, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said “vested interests” were running a “motivated and mala fide” campaign to deny Mumbai the benefits of superior lighting at lower cost.
In a series of tweets, Mr. Fadnavis said: “Power savings by using LED streetlights will help us provide cheaper power to farmers & backward areas & improved lighting will make cities safer.” “Mumbai can save Rs. 80 crore every year by using LED streetlights, thus providing cheaper power to rest of Maharashtra & accelerate development,” Mr. Fadnavis said. His government had requested the Central Power Ministry to help install LED streetlights owing to these factors, he said.
Mr. Fadnavis also defended engaging Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), a public sector unit, for implementing the LED project and dismissed allegations of irregularities in contracts.
