No illumination on Saturdays

Crisis forces govt to cut down on lighting at Vidhana Soudha

Reason: To save precious power.

With the State facing an acute shortage of power, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has, in its order dated June 19, stopped illumination of Vidhana Soudha on Saturdays. “Not many people are coming to watch the illuminated Vidhna Soudha on Saturdays. Power is going waste on Saturdays,” the order stated.

The Vidhana Soudha is one of the tourist attractions of the State. The Government has been illuminating the structure during the weekends, and on five other occasions, for three hours between 6 pm and 9 pm, on the lines of the Mysore Palace.

As per the new order, there will be no illumination on Saturdays. On Sundays and five other occasions, the Soudha will be illuminated between 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm.

According to official sources, as many as 2,500 blue-coloured tubes are being used for  illumination, consuming around 250 units of power per hour. The total cost of power consumed for illumination is approximately Rs 50,000 per month. “As per the new measure, about Rs 15,000 can be saved every month,” sources pointed out.

Highlights

* Duration of illumination cut down by one hour on Sundays and holidays
*  Illumination will be only on Sundays, Republic Day, Independence Day, Vijayadashami, Kannada Rajyotsava and Balipadyami