Conventional vapor lights at prominent squares in all municipal wards in Ranchi will be soon be replaced by eco -friendly lEDs (light Emitting Diodes) as the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has sanctioned about eight lights for each square in a ward.
The transition is likely to be complete in a month’s time as the civic body has been granted funds to proceed with the installation of lEDs. About eight lEDs have been sanctioned for each square in all municipal wards by the RMC which is likely to be installed in a month’s time. Migration to lED lights will slowly cover entire capital.
“Right now we have sanctioned lEDs for squares in municipal wards. After completing this we will replace street lights but that is a long term plan,” said RMC PRO, Naresh Kumar Sinha.
While municipal wards are lucky to get clearance for putting up lEDs there is no clarity about time cap to replace heat generating vapour lamps on streets with lEDs.
The civic body is yet to prepare a blueprint for replacement of sodium lights being currently used to illuminate streets. Sources in the RMC fear that the project could face delay if no decision is taken within a month.
“There is no time frame to replace street lights. It will happen as soon as we get sanction from the department. But if we don’t get sanction prior to announcement of election then we may have to wait for next year to continue with the plan,” said a source in RMC.
The department has provided about Rs 2.73-crore to RMC for purchasing 1,200 lEDs and of which about 600 lEDs have been used to light up Harmu bypass with white light while rest will be used in municipal wards. In total the urban civic body has to replace around 19,000 energy consuming sodium lights on the capital’s streets.
The decision in favour of the futuristic lights came from Urban Development department about a fortnight ago. As per the directive issued by the department, energy consuming vapour lights will not be purchased henceforth and an lED light will be installed instead to save energy consumption in power starved Jharkhand.
longevity and low maintenance are among the features of the tiny lights besides producing more light for every kW of energy consumed have been compelling factors for preferring lEDs. The department has authorized all municipal bodies to make purchase of the lights at their level.
“This is happening in all major cities. This migration will be beneficial as it will reduce maintenance cost usually incurred on a vapour light,” said Deputy Secretary, Urban Development, Shashi
Bhushan Mehra. A vapour lamp has longevity of two-three years, while lEDs continue for 15 years without any hiccup and are immune to voltage fluctuations that often damage a vapour light. The tiny bulbs in lEDs emitting white light is also environment friendly compared to vapours.