Gujarat has become the first state to distribute 2 crore Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs under the Central Government’s ‘Unnat Jyoti’ by Affordable LEDs for all (UJALA) scheme.
Interestingly, the state has reached this milestone in just 96 days and over 42 lakh households have already benefitted from the scheme.
The state government aims to allocate 12 crores LED bulbs across the state. This would lead to energy savings of nearly 650 Crore kWh and cost savings of about Rs 2,500 crore.
via Objectives
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India, is distributing approximately 2 lakh bulbs daily in Gujarat which is again a record in itself.
During his speech in Jamnagar, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, “There is competition between states to outdo each other in terms of LED distribution. Gujarat, in less than 100 days is now leading in terms of LED distribution across the nation. I congratulate the entire team for implementing the LED Bulb programme. I am confident that every household in Gujarat will adopt LEDs and save on electricity bills. The state will save a lot of energy and will also lead the way in helping protect the environment”
The distribution of 2 crores LED bulbs has led to an annual energy savings of 259 crore kWh which are equivalent to lighting up 5 lakh Indian homes for an entire year. Alongside the savings in units, the state has also benefitted from daily CO2 emission reduction of 5,000 tonnes.The programme has also helped the state to avoid 520MW of peak demand.
Reasons why the feat achieved by Gujarat is Commendable
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India, is distributing approximately 2 lakh bulbs daily in Gujarat, which is a record in itself
- An annual energy savings of 259 crore kWh equivalent to lighting up 5 lakh Indian homes for an entire year were seen because of the distribution of 2 crores LED bulbs in the state.
- Apart from that, Gujarat has also benefitted from daily CO2 emission reduction of 5,000 tonnes
- The programme has also helped the state to avoid 520MW of peak demand
UJALA scheme
- The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on May 1, 2015, to replace the ‘Bachat Lamp Yojana’
- Within 1 year of its launch, 9 crores LED bulbs were sold in the country, reducing their electricity bills by 55 billion (820 million US Dollar)
- On January 5, 2015, the scheme was announced as ‘Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP)’ urging the people to use LED bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs, tube lights and CFL bulbs as they are more proficient, long lasting and economical in their life cycle duration
- Over 15 crore LED bulbs have already been distributed across India, which is leading to annual energy savings of 1948 crore kWh and resulting in avoidance of 3,900 MW of peak demand under UJALA.
- Through the programme, the estimated cumulative cost reduction of bills of consumers, annually is Rs 7990 crores.