Civic body makes a power point

In the wake of severe power shortage in the State, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has cracked the whip on advertising agencies to ensure judicious usage of available power. The advertising agencies within the city limits were ordered not to illuminate hoardings from Saturday evening until further instructions.

GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu issued the instructions after a meeting with Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain on Saturday. “Violation of the instructions will be viewed seriously and action will be initiated against the violators,” said Krishna Babu. Incidentally, 40 per cent of the 3,300 hoardings in the city are illuminated after dark. “We can save much needed power if the illumination is halted,” the GHMC commissioner said.

Krishna Babu also instructed the maintenance staff of GHMC electrical wing to switch on and switch off streetlights at the right time. “Streetlights should be switched on after 7 pm only and should be switched off before 5 am,” he ordered. He said that it was noted that in several areas the maintenance staff was switching on streetlights by 5 pm and leaving them on till 8 am.

He opined that strict regulation of street lighting can save power consumption for 2 to 3 hours every day, which will amount to 20-25 per cent of the total electricity consumption. The GHMC is using 20 million units every month for streetlighting and provision of water supply to the city outskirts. “Also, we are planning to replace sodium vapour lights and tubelights with LED and CFL lamps. However, this plan is getting delayed due to court cases and fund arrangements,” the commissioner said.

With erratic power cuts becoming the order of the day, people are looking for alternative sources like solar invertors.

To promote usage of solar power, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is providing 40 per cent subsidy for purchasing solar inverters.

To promote commercial marketing of solar accessories, ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), had launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission with subsidy for solar lighting and small capacity photovoltaic systems, which would be routed through Nabard.

 An amount of Rs 30,000 would be required for installing a solar inverter of which 40 per cent of the amount would be provided by Nabard towards subsidy and 50 per cent of the amount by the commercial banks in the form of loans and the remaining amount shall be borne by the beneficiary.

Nabard has entered into an agreement with Andromedar company for the purpose.

Consumers who own a house may apply for installing solar invertors to the above company.

The consumers have to repay the loan in monthly installments to the banks concerned.

Andromedar has entered into a pact with Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikasa Bank in setting up solar inverters for which Nabard gives the subsidy.

One needs Rs 30,000 for installing a solar inverter for which Nabard would provide a subsidy of Rs 10,800. The consumer has to repay loan of Rs. 3,200 to the bank concerned, so that the remaining amount of Rs 16,000 would be provided by the bank in the form of loan at Pavala Vaddi.