AP State targets world record

Amaravati: Buoyed by the overwhelming response from the public over the LED project unveiled recently in Dwarampudi in East Godavari district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu instructed the authorities to create world record by completing 100% LED street lighting statewide by October, which will benefit 3.6 crore rural population and the economic growth of Gram Panchayats.

During the ensuing Collectors’ conference to be held on May 8 and 9, the government is also contemplating to highlight the novel LED street lighting project in East Godavari, which has created a national record by completing over 3.1 lakh LED lights within a span of over 5 months.

During a teleconference on Sunday with Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Nara Lokesh, Energy Minister Kala Venkata Rao and senior officials, the Chief Minister said, “I am not fully satisfied with the national record with the 100% street lighting in EG district. Creating world record by completing 100% LED street lighting across the state by October must be our target.” 

The Chief Minister exhorted that both the Panchayat Raj and Energy departments should adopt integrated approach  to create world record in completing 100% LED street lighting in around 12,918 Gram Panchayats by October.  

Nara Lokesh directed the Principal Secretary to Rural Development to issue orders immediately for taking up 13 more lakhs LED street lights in remaining 5 districts-Guntur, Prakasam,  Nellore,Kurnool and Srikakulam.

He said 5.27 lakh LED street lights were installed and 2.34 lakh lights were connected to dash board and as part of the ongoing project of retrofitting, 15 lakhs LED street lights are in pipeline in 7 districts.

Action plan formulated to cover the entire LED project with 28 Lakhs Street Lights with support of EESL with annual energy savings of 282 MU and annual economic savings of Rs170 crores . The Minister said that 3.6 crores Rural Population gets benefit with energy efficient LED street lighting program and each LED street light covers 3 families in rural areas.

Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar, Special Chief Secretary Satish Chandra,  PrincipalSecretary G Sai Prasad, K Jawahar Reddy, Ajay Jain, K Vijayanand and APSEEDCO MD A Chandra Sekhar Reddy participated in the teleconference.

By K Varaprasada Rao