Plagued by a power deficit, Rajasthan is putting in place steps to reduce electricity consumption. From now on only energy-saving tube lights will be used in residential areas in place of high-powered sodium vapour lights.
A decision has also been taken to install only solar powered energy devices for lighting up parks. Besides, the government has also decided to hold energy audits in government offices from time to time.
The new directives also include more use of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which consume less power.
"The target to implement these directives has been fixed as March 2009. However, we have decided to start the process right now," Urban Development Mnister Pratap Singh Singhvi told IANS.
He said that solar timers would be used in different areas to control and monitor the functioning of streetlights.
The Municipal Council of Ajmer has invited expression of interest (EOI) to convert the streetlights to power saving technology. Official sources said the government is likely to soon implement an energy conservation building code.
When the code is implemented, the installation of energy saving CFL bulbs and solar heating plants would be made mandatory in all government buildings. Authorities also plan to give priority to installation of solar devices in office buildings.
Under the proposal, the use of CFL would be made mandatory in all government buildings including offices, guest houses and annexes.
Besides, the use of solar water heating plants would be made compulsory in all departmental guest houses and government-run hotels.
It is estimated that the use of CFL bulbs and solar water heating plants would reduce the total power consumption by 20 to 30 percent.
At present, the installed electricity generation capability in Rajasthan is around 4,547 MW. Rajasthan is also capable of 1,300 MW of captive generation.
A major percentage (about 72 per cent) of Rajasthan's electricity generation capacity is based on thermal power. The state suffers from a power deficit of over 27 percent.