SRINAGAR: The roads and streets of Jammu and Kashmir will soon illuminate with LED lights as the state government has set in motion the implementation of Street Light National Programme (SLNP) even as the project executing company Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has begun surveying the state.
Approximately 70 thousand LED street lights will be installed across the three regions–either new or as a replacement, even as EESL will maintain these lights for next seven years, while guarantying replacement of a faulty light within 24 hours.
Aiming to promote energy efficiency in the country, Government of India (GOI) had launched the ambitious project in 2015. However, the state cabinet in the year 2017 had accorded sanction to the implementation of Energy Efficient LED Street Lights project in Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) through EESL- a Joint Venture Company set up by Union Ministry of Power, subject to obtaining all necessary clearance and approval from Competent Authority.
“Implementation of the project was delayed due to administrative hurdles. We don’t know the exact reason for the delay during previous government tenure but on our part, it was delayed for two months due to the imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC),” an official said wishing anonymity.
“The government has signed an MoU with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) worth Rs 32.50 crore. The EESL will also maintain the lights for seven years,” he added.
“EESL has almost completed its survey in Jammu while the company will start the survey in Srinagar within few days,” Jaspal Singh, JMC’s Joint Commissioner told The News Now.
“Presently we have 4200 street lights across the city. Out of these 2600 are LED. The company will replace the old lights with LED lights,” he said.
“The Power Development Department (PDD) will also support the project and install poles in blind spots especially in newly added four wards,” he said adding that the PDD already floated the tenders for the poles.
He informed that the PDD department will also install feeders, which would supply power to only LED street lights.
“The company has almost completed its task and start work in coming few days,” Chairman Sanitation Committee, JMC, Baldev Singh Billawaria said.
“Approximately, 70,000 lights will be installed in the Jammu City,” he said. He added that the company will also replace faulty lights within 24 hours.