Goa government to suspend LED bulbs scheme -- Jyotirmay Goa

A light-emitting diode (LED) street lamp is illuminated in Langen, Lower Saxony, May 23, 2013. Light-emitting diodes are taking over public spaces, saving thousands of euros in energy costs, although the price will deter households from making the switch for some time. LEDs are up to eight times more efficient than incandescent bulbs used in most homes but are still at least 10 times as expensive. The more expensive a lamp, the longer it needs to burn to write off the price, so it is more viable to use them in streets and hospitals than in homes where lights are off more than on. The town of Langen on Germany's North Sea coast has done the sums and two years ago became the first in Europe to replace its 2,583 street lights with LEDs at a cost of 1.7 million euros ($2.2 million). The town now spends about 79,000 euros a year to run its street lights - more than 60 percent less than before. Picture taken May 23. To go with story ENERGY-EFFICIENCY/LED REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer (GERMANY - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) - RTX1076N

The Goa government has decided to suspend its ambitious 'Jyotirmay Goa' scheme under which it provided LED bulbs to the consumers due to dip in demand.

This scheme will be replaced by another scheme under which tubelights, fans and bulbs will be provided at a cheaper rate to the people.

The state government had launched 'Jyotirmay Goa' scheme in July last year through which seven lakh LED bulbs were distributed to the consumers till date.

"The response to Jyotirmay Goa scheme was going down with passing time. That is why we have decided to suspend it," state power minister Pandurang Madkaikar told reporters today.

He said the scheme would be replaced with new initiative which is centrally funded project under which tubelights, fans and bulbs would be provided to the customers at subsidised rate.

"The new scheme will not incur any financial liability on the state government. We will only have to provide shelter for the firm which will be implementing this central government initiative," he said.

The electricity department intends to start this new scheme at the sub-divisions and in the second phase it would be taken to the panchayats.