LED street lights in all Siddipet, Gajwel GPs

Streets to be lit up from next month, says official

Power saving: LED street lights in Sangareddy.

For the first time in the State, two constituencies are going to have the streets fully lit with LED street lights and the credit goes to Siddipet.

The issue of installing LED street lights came up during a review meeting conducted by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in February. He directed the officials to install LED lights in all gram panchayats (GPs). Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao took interest in grounding the CM’s idea.

The pilot project in Nawabpet in Hatnoora mandal of Sangareddy district, about two years ago, resulted in significant savings in power bill, making officials to seriously consider the project. The Nawabpet pilot was entrusted to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) — a joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Grid — though some of the private operators to showed interest.

Proven operator

This time also many private operators came forward but the government favoured EESL.

Under the project, 90 % of total street lights would have 18 watt LED light fixtures, 7.5 % would have 35 watt LED fixtures and the remaining 2.5 % would have 70 watt LED lights. Each 18 watt LED emits lighting equal to 40 watt CFL or a 200 watt tubelight. A 35 watt LED emits lighting equal to 70 watt CFL or a 350 watt tubelight. Similarly, a 70-watt LED emits light equal to 140 watt CFL or a 700 watt tubelight.

The project would cover 128 gram panchayats in Gajwel constituency and 75 GPs in Siddipet constituency. As many as 17,495 street lights in Gajwel and 12,271 street lights in Siddipet will be replaced with LED lighting. Gajwel Area Development Authority (GADA) will bear the total cost of installing the lights estimated to cost about ₹6.88 crore, including maintenance cost.

Footing the bill

In Siddipet constituency the total cost is expected to be about ₹4.83 crore, the District Collector will pay 40% of the cost from his funds while the balance would be paid by the GPs.

Centralised Controlling and Monitoring System (CCMS) will be established by EESL in each village.

“Fixing of lights in all the GPs will be completed in the next 10 days followed by setting up of CCMS by the end of this month. From November first week these will be operational,” Siddipet District Panchayat Officer Suresh Babu told The Hindu .