GHMC saves 1.47 cr on streetlights

​Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday claimed to have saved Rs 1.47 crore in the past three months on streetlight electricity bills by strictly adhering to energy conservation measures.

The corporation, in order to minimise the electricity consumption has replaced old meters, installed auto-time to switches, switching off Hi-mass streetlights after 11pm and several other methods.

About 4.5 lakh street lights in the GHMC limits have consumed 2, 03, 08,645 units of electricity during March last year. Whereas in 2015-16, only1, 97, 86,445 units were consumed saving the corporation nearly 5, 22,200 units and Rs 34 lakh towards electricity charges.

Explaining about saving of electricity charges pertaining to street lights, GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said that he had held review meetings with officials every 15 days to learn the methods to be implemented to save the corporation's money. He said officials have installed meters on every street pole and replaced the defective meters.

GHMC commissioner further said that the residential welfare associations and volunteers were roped in to ensure timely action for operating the street lights.

He said that the zonal commissioners, deputy commissioners and engineers were asked to supervise the maintenance of street lights. He said by adopting simple methods, the GHMC has managed to save Rs 1, 46, 62,000 toward electricity charges and 1, 69,000 units during financial year 2015-16.

However, residents in several areas allege that corporation officials have not even switched on the streetlights since several months. They allege only three lights were put to use when there about 10 street lights available in a colony.

Residents in areas including Nagarjuna Nagar in Tarnaka, Bagh Lingampally, Himayathnagar and others claim that the officials have turned a blind eye to streetlights that are dysfunctional since several months.