Improper lighting in Panchkula, Kalka

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 3

In a first-ever energy audit survey conducted in the district, the Panchkula Municipal Corporation found that there were 911 points in Panchkula, Kalka and Pinjore areas where proper lighting was not available for pedestrians and cyclists, thus making night-time driving more risky.

In the month-long exercise, which was conducted by Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, various aspects were surveyed in the municipal limits of the district. It was found that there were no proper lighting arrangements in 25 per cent area of Pinjore, 8 per cent area of Kalka and 4 per cent area of Panchkula.

The survey report said there were 17,708 street light points which needed to be replaced with LED lights, existing LED points were 3,015, missing light points were 1,315, retrofit required was 16,393 and uncovered points were 911.

The survey further stated that there were 1 to 5 per cent of LED lights installed in the existing system in the district. The total number of poles, which were found damaged, was nil in Kalka and Pinjore, while in Panchkula, the number was 190.

MC Commissioner-cum-Administrator Rajesh Jogpal said the company had submitted the survey and the authorities were going to act upon it. He said this time, the MC was going to adopt a model to save and earn from streetlights. After the installation of the LED lights, the civic body’s electricity bill would be cut by 40 per cent.

He said the saved money would be used for the expansion work of the streetlights in the city. He said the company, which would execute this work, would not charge anything from the MC and would maintain these lights for the next five years.