PM Narendra Modi launching the National Programme for LED Street Lighting and LED Home Lighting with Lt. Governor Delhi Najeeb Jung. (PIB)

PM Narendra Modi seen with Lt. Governor Delhi Najeeb Jung and the MoS for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal. (PIB)

PM Narendra Modi seen with Lt. Governor Delhi Najeeb Jung and the MoS for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal. (PIB)

NEW DELHI: Moving towards his government's aim to conserve energy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scheme for LED bulb distribution under the domestic efficient lighting programme in Delhi; and a National Programme for LED-based Home and Street Lighting.PM Modi also symbolically replaced one bulb in South Block, with an LED bulb. Replacement of all bulbs in South Block with LED bulbs will enable savings of 7000 units of energy each month, said a government press release.Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister called for making energy conservation through the spread of LED bulbs, a people's movement. He noted that it is much more economical to conserve power, than to produce power. However, he added, it is much more difficult to conserve power, than to produce power, because while one producing entity can produce a large quantity of power, it requires the active participation of crores of people to conserve that amount of power. Therefore, he called for generating awareness among people for the same. He called for extensive involvement of celebrities and eminent citizens in these programmes, who could motivate people to adopt LED bulbs.Modi described the LED bulb as a 'Prakash Path' – 'way to light,' as he launched the scheme. The Prime Minister said these programmes also represent a challenge to manufacturers, to rise to the occasion, and produce LED bulbs without any compromise on quality.Suggesting innovative ways to generate awareness and spread the message of energy efficiency, Modi said gifts such as diaries and calendars on New Year should be replaced by gifts of LEDs. Companies could distribute LED bulbs along with dividend payments, he suggested.Modi called for setting district level goals, and to prioritize this scheme in all towns with population above one lakh. He said involvement of entrepreneurs, eminent citizens and common people in this programme would represent an act of patriotism – as it would reduce import bills, and an act of social service – as it would save the environment.The initiative is part of the government's efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country. LED bulbs have a very long life, almost 50 times more than ordinary bulbs, and 8-10 times that of CFLs, and therefore provide both energy and cost savings in the medium term.Modi also launched a web-based system to enable consumers in Delhi to register requests for procuring LED bulbs under Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP). Consumers can register either through the programme website (eeslindia.org/Delhi-Launch) or by sending an SMS to a designated number.LED bulbs shall be distributed in a phased manner from March 2015 onwards. The entire project of installing LED bulbs for domestic and street-lighting in 100 cities is targeted for completion by March 2016.In Delhi, LED bulbs will be provided to all domestic consumers at an initial payment of Rs 10 each and recovery of Rs 10 each for 12 months from their electricity bill. "Hence, the cost for an LED bulb to domestic consumer will be Rs 130 through this programme due to bulk procurement, compared to the current open market retail price in the range of Rs 350-600 for LED bulbs. The estimated annual savings for households in Delhi per LED bulb will be Rs 162. The LED bulbs will have a warranty of 3 years," the press release stated.