Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the need for the States to take up energy efficiency and energy conservation activities as they serve the twin purposes of achieving economic development and environmental protection.
The Prime Minister, who chaired an interactive video-conferencing session through PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation), an ICT-based multi-modal platform on Wednesday, appreciated the State government for its initiatives in promoting energy efficiency and energy conservation measures like promotion of LED lighting and demand side management based efficiency lighting programmes (DELP). Union Power Secretary Pradeep Kumar Pujari explained Mr. Modi about the initiatives launched by the AP Government such as promotion of LED-based lighting in both domestic sector and street lighting. Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who participated in the video-conference, told Mr. Modi about the progress achieved in replacement of traditional lights with the LED ones.
Mr. Rao said several international agencies including the International Energy Association and World Bank evinced interest in assisting AP in the LED programmes. The initiatives ensured that Visakhapatnam became the first city to have entire street lighting with LED and had registered 43 per cent energy savings since January. He said the government was keen on ensuring distribution of around 1.4 crore 9W LED bulbs in the next phase of the DELP programme. Energy secretary Ajay Jain said the Energy Efficiency Services Limited had committed to invest Rs. 5,000 crore over the next five years in promoting the activities.
