MCC move may save power

 Streetlights in many places remain turned on even during the day. The civic administrations, which maintain the streetlights, pay huge amount of tax payers money as electricity bill every month.

In this background, the Mangalore City Corporation is taking a major step to reduce its electricity bills, which is estimated at Rs 420 lakh to Rs 430 lakh per annum just for paying the bill of the streetlights. The civic body incurs expenditure on power for streetlights, water supply, and sewage treatment plants. It has taken up energy audit and saving for these areas on priority and will roll out energy conservation plan for them starting with streetlights along city’s major streets.

Mangalore City Corporation on a pilot basis has selected streetlights on the stretch from PVS Junction to Lady Hill under the plan as far as streetlights are concerned. Remote Controlled Centralised Energy Saving Module is being used for the automatic switching off and on the streetlights in the stretch. Lights are switched on and off at the pre determined time, without human intervention. The devise can be manually controlled or by remote control through an internet browser or internet enabled mobile phone.
As of now, there is no way to ensure that energy is not wasted unless the contractors be punctual at work. Or else, we can all stare helplessly at the lamps shedding light at mid day. The success of this pilot project will determine its replications elsewhere.
Speaking to City Herald, MCC Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash said streetlights system across the city would change if the pilot project yield desired results.

He said that there are 62,000 streetlights in Mangalore City Corporation limits which include fluorescent lamps, sodium vapour lamps and metal halide lamps.
Normally, streetlights are switched off at 6 am and on at 6 pm. “In fact, the maintenance of streetlights are outsourced to a contractor by the City Corporation. The City Corporation gets Rs 420 lakh to Rs 430 lakh as bill for streetlights alone. Unfortunately, many a time, we would find streetlights burning even at 12 noon,” he said.
The Commissioner said the module will also help us to find out the theft in electricity and also fault in the streetlights can be detected with alarm system. In fact, the City Corporation is spending Rs 2 crore annually for the maintenance of the streetlights including the purchase of the materials. With the module, atleast 30 to 35 per cent of power can be saved.

The pilot project will be monitored and regulated. If it proves cost effective, then after taking permission in the Council and the government, it may be implemented in the entire City.