AP to conduct survey for better functioning of LED street lights

Vijayawada By identifying shortcomings, if any and initiating corrective measures, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to bolster the entire street lighting system in the State.

As part of efforts to strengthen the LED street lighting system under the ‘Jagananna Palle Velugu’ program, the Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department will hold an extensive survey on scientific basis to identify each electric pole in villages and assess the actual status.

The State Government is determined to acquire comprehensive data regarding the LED street lighting project, including the installation of street lights on every electric pole in villages, the luminosity of the lights, their physical condition and their connection to the centralised control monitoring systems (CCMS) Box in a week or so.

A high-level meeting was conducted by Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy with Special Chief Secretary B Rajaskehar, Commissioner PR & RD Department A Surya Kumari and officials from the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) on Sunday. In the meeting, the Chief Secretary instructed the officials to collaborate with EESL and design an infallible mechanism to ensure that every LED street light installed by EESL operates fully.

According to officials, the State Government is taking decisive actions to strengthen the rural LED street lights program as part of its efforts to enhance living standards, socio-economic development and overall wellbeing of the public. EESL had already installed 23.63 lakh LED street lights in approximately 10,261 gram panchayats.

Rajasekhar along with Commissioner PR & RD A Surya Kumari said that the District Collectors have been instructed to ensure the success of LED street lighting programme. To gather a comprehensive understanding of the current situation, the government has initiated the survey, which is expected to conclude within a week, he said.

The survey consists of identifying the number of electrical poles, location of pole, whether street light is installed, street light type, installation agency, street light wattage, whether glowing or not glowing, if not glowing the physical condition of light, whether the light is connected with CCMS boxes, whether 3rd wire connected or not and whether lights are connected to electrical meter.

Based on the findings, the State government in collaboration with EESL and other stakeholders will revamp the existing maintenance mechanism.

Stating that the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has emphasised the need for providing quality services for every family, the Chief Secretary said that the State is putting special focus on infrastructure development for welfare of people including power sector, PR & RD, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Education, Medical Health and other departments.

“The Nadu-Nedu programme implemented in the Education Department has created history. Other States are also keen to study the Nadu-Nedu program of AP. School dropouts have substantially reduced. Similarly, the government is providing quality services through round-the-clock power supply, quality of medical services, roads, drinking water facilities and in particular LED street lighting program for which the government is firm to make ‘Jaganaanna Palle Velugu’ a role model in the country, the Chief Secretary said.