The orders for the schools say that “keeping in view the orders from the central government, the government of Punjab has also decided that from now on energy saving measures will be focused on”.
Keeping in mind the orders of the Union Ministry of Power to meet the targets under National LED programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the education department of Punjab has given orders for government schools which states that only LED lights/bulbs should be fitted in the premises of the school.
The letter issued from the office of director of school education (secondary) in Punjab, refers to the orders received from Ministry of Power which say that “installation of LED-based lighting is mandatory in all the government buildings as well as in community lighting projects funded by the state government”.
Ajay Bhalla, secretary to the government of India, Ministry of Power in a letter (which has also been received by the schools) to Karan Avtar Singh, chief secretary, Government of Punjab has written that under the National LED programme, which the PM had launched in UK, the target is to distribute 77 crore LED bulbs under UJALA (Unnati Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) and to install 1.34 crore LED street lights by March 2019.
The letter further asks the government of Punjab to install LED lights in all government buildings and target ’50-90% reduction in energy consumption’. The orders for the schools say that “Keeping in view the orders from the central government, the government of Punjab has also decided that from now on energy saving measures will be focused on.”
Paramjit Singh, director of school education (secondary) in Punjab, said, “It is an appreciable step by central government. Since school buildings are one of the major consumers of power, they have been told to install LED lights only from now on. Government takes care of all expenses of government schools and thus they have to follow these orders on LED lighting.”