Hyderabad: Secunderabad Cantonment Board didn’t meet its deadline to shift to LED lighting from the present conventional lights. It planned to complete the exercise by February- end initially, but as of this week less than 70 per cent of the works are over. SCB had entered into an agreement with EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) of Union Power Ministry on January 2 to install energy-efficient LED lights in all eight wards.
A decision was taken to install ten thousand street lights, but until now seven thousand old lights have been replaced with new ones. Barely had new lights been installed, when complaints began pouring in about them becoming non-functional in some places, raising questions on wiring conditions, quality of bulbs etc.
Former vice-president V. Jai Prakash said the newly-installed bulbs were not functioning in a few areas in Bolarum and the issue was also brought to the notice of the staff concerned.
“The reply given was staff would come and check if there were any wiring defects. But the wiring was okayed, raising doubts over the quality of bulbs being supplied. They may be installing defective bulbs, leading to escalation of costs,” he speculated.
