Many govt depts yet to switch over to CFLs

But many of its own departments are yet to switch over to CFLs despite the government banning the use of incandescent bulbs over four years ago.

The government on November 13, 2007 issued an order banning the use of incandescent bulbs in all its offices, including aided institutions, boards and corporations. All departments were directed to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. Besides, it was made mandatory for all government buildings to use solar water heating system. The move was aimed at conserving energy. Incandescent bulbs were banned as it consumes more energy compared to CFLs.

According to sources in the Energy department, many departments have not taken the order seriously and continue using defective incandescent bulbs, especially at taluk and village level offices. “Offices located in major cities and towns have replaced incandescent bulbs with CFLs. But the response is very poor in rural areas. Majority of zilla, taluk and gram panchayat offices are still using incandescent bulbs,” official sources said.

Similarly, many government buildings, especially guest houses, are yet to install solar water heating system.

One of the reasons, sources said, for the departments not taking the direction seriously was that the order is silent on the deadline. As a result, the officials are taking their own time to implement the order, sources pointed out.

Repeated circulars by the Energy department reminding all departments to comply with the order have fallen on deaf ears. In a recent circular dated January 13, 2011, the Energy department asked all department heads, deputy commissioners of all districts and heads of all escoms to send a compliance report pertaining to the order. Except for Bescom and department of Planning and Statistics, none of them has bothered to submit the report yet.

The report was sought after the government decided to launch Belaku yojane. It has decided to provide four CFLs to every household at a subsidised rate of Rs 15 per each.
All escoms have initiated the tender process to award the work to provide CFLs to people.