Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday launched a scheme to facilitate use of energy efficient LED bulbs which would cover around 95 lakh beneficiaries in the state.
The CM launched the scheme through videoconferencing from the state Secretariat. As per the norms, all the existing beneficiaries of National Food Security Scheme and State Food Security Scheme would be eligible for availing the benefits.
“The bulbs are of good quality and are available at a cheaper price than the market. With the use of these LED bulbs the consumers can also cut down on their monthly electricity bills. While conventionally people use bulbs with 60 watt power to 100 watt power, escalated the electricity bills, the LED bulbs with 9 watt power would cut down on their bills,” Energy Secretary Hemant Sharma said.
Elaborating on the plan, he also added, “We will start distribution of the bulbs at Peetha camps and those who cannot avail them from the camps can get them from the retail PDS shops. Moreover, the gram panchayat offices will also distribute the LED bulbs.”
As per the plan of the state government, the beneficiaries can get the state assistance of four LED bulbs per household after their biometric authentication. This comes after the rural areas of Odisha achieved 100 per cent electrification through the central and state schemes for rural electrification.
Though the Union ministry of power has entitled the citizens of Odisha to avail LED bulbs from electricity offices and consumer centres under Ujjala Yojana, the scheme was marred by supply side bottlenecks.