Energy saving bulbs up for change in 27 districts

The government yesterday distributed compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), popularly known as energy saving bulbs, to electricity consumers free of cost as part of its move on energy conservation in the wake of nagging power crisis.
A total of 55 lakh bulbs were distributed among the consumers in selected areas of 27 districts including capital Dhaka.
In the capital, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd (DESCO) distributed the energy saving bulbs in different selected areas.
Other distribution entities like Power Development Board, Rural Electrification Board and West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd distributed the bulbs to their respective consumers in other districts.
DPDC officials said they set up a total of 134 makeshift distribution centres at different schools under 13 divisions in the city to distribute a total of 847,000 units of bulbs.
“We received a very good response and most of our bulbs were smoothly distributed among our customers,” a DPDC official said.
Echoing the DPDC official, a DESCO official said they had also tremendous response from the consumers to collect the energy saving bulbs.
DESCO opened a total of 91 makeshift distribution centres in selected areas of the city to distribute about 565,000 units of bulbs.
DPDC distributed the bulbs mainly in old part of the city while DESCO distributed the bulbs in its Mirpur and Cantonment areas.
Many consumers, who are mainly tenants, alleged that their house-owners collected the bulbs on their behalf showing the bill-payment copy. But they are yet to receive the bulbs from the house-owners.
Officials of both DPDC and DESCO said they have received similar allegations.
“To address the problem, we’ve to find out a new mechanism so that the tenants get their bulbs and can use those,” a DPDC official told UNB.
As per the government decision, a family will get four energy saving bulbs free of cost. But the family has to show the paid copy of his last electricity bill.
Outside capital Dhaka, energy saving bulbs were distributed in 27 selected districts. The districts are Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Chapainababganj, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Rajshahi and Natore.
Under the project worth Tk 279.28 crore, 5.5 million CFL bulbs were distributed yesterday in the first phase.
Later, another 17.5 million CFL bulbs will also be distributed. A total of 28 million CFL bulbs will be distributed countrywide among 9 million consumers by June 30, 2011.
The government began distributing the CFL bulbs with a slogan “Elo Natun Alor Din” (New light’s day arrives).
The Rural Electrification Board is implementing the project titled “Efficient Lighting Initiative for Bangladesh” to reduce the consumption of electricity.
State Minister for Power and Energy Mohammad Enamul Haque visited different bulb distribution centres in the city.

Courtesy of UNB viaThe Daily Star