Amonth after the installation of white LED lights on Marine Drive led to a bitter battle between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, the former has extended an olive branch to its alliance partner. Senior Sena leaders on Sunday told Mirror that the party has ‘no issue’ in giving a go-ahead to the BJP-backed plan to install LED lights across the city if it agrees to junk the LEDs on Marine Drive in favour of yellow lamps – either the old sodium vapour lamps or yellow LEDs. Senior BJP leaders said they will consider the offer favourably. This newspaper has been highlighting the safety concerns caused by the LEDs, whose illumination does not reach the promenade, and how they have robbed the area of its heritage look.While the rapprochement is good news for Marine Drive, it will mean the BMC may get a free run to turn the rest of the city white. If the final proposal is passed, Energy Efficiency Services Limited, a central government subsidy, will start work on replacing sodium vapour streetlights across the city to white LEDs.Experts warned that the BMC should not rush into the change. They said while LEDs are energy efficient and may even be more powerful, the real problem is the poles. “These were installed keeping in mind the sodium vapour lamps,” said nominated corporator Avkash Jadhav, who got an illumination survey done on Marine Drive. “If the BMC installs white LEDs on the same lampposts, it will result in dark patches as has happened in Marine Drive. The switch will require the entire lighting infrastructure to be made compatible for LEDs.”Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte had told a civic general body meeting last month that the decision was taken at a meeting attended by Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, state Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and BJP legislator Ashish Shelar. While the Sena opposed the switch, the MNS has threatened to move court. The heritage committee, too, slammed the civic body.Kunte had hinted at the general meeting that he will push the final proposal under Sections 69 and 72(3) of the Municipal Act. While civic norms demand that work over Rs 3 lakh be awarded through tenders, under Section 72(3), the standing committee can authorise the commissioner to enter contracts without tenders.The Sena, which has 10 members in the 27-member standing committee, holds the key to this route. “We are in favour of technology,” said Trushna Vishwarao, leader of the house in the BMC. “If the LEDs save electricity, we have no issue. But it should not be at the cost of the heritage character of the city’s iconic road. Our only demand is the charm of the Queen’s Necklace be restored. It was the pride of the city. If that is done, we have no issue with LEDs. But the BMC will have to conduct a detailed illumination study before any decision.”While BJP Group Leader in the BMC Manoj Kotak refused to comment, another senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted the Sena’s offer is the only viable way out of the logjam and that the party will consider it positively. “If the BJP wants to take its national plan ahead, it will have to strike a deal with the Shiv Sena in Mumbai,” said the leader. “Marine Drive was a pilot project and the plan is on hold for now. The Sena has made it a prestige issue and the heritage panel has also objected. In the larger interest of the LED plan we will have to agree to the Sena’s demand and get yellow lights at Marine Drive. However, we will have to make sure it doesn’t appear that the BJP has bowed down to Sena’s pressure. We need to avoid any loss of face in the public.”Chetan Solanki, associate professor of energy science and engineering at IIT-Bombay, said metal halide lamps – which were recently installed on JJ flyover, leading to complaints that they are dim – and LEDs do give superior quality lighting, if properly used.“If motorists are complaining of lower visibility, the cause could be related to design issues or to the lack of sufficient power which could cause the intensity of light to dim.” said Solanki. “To prevent dark spots, care should be taken regarding the design in terms of the spacing of lights as well the angle and height at which they are placed.”