Karkala municipal council prepares for installation of solar street lights

R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)

Karkala, Nov 14: The existing prices of street lights and their maintenance having amounting to as high as Rs 4.12 lac, the Karkala municipality has started to install solar lights in the city.  The lights have already been installed at 58 places.

There are 2,346 tubelights, 278 sodium lights and 90 induction lamps in the municipal limits. Poles with a height of 8 to 9 metres are used for these.  However, the street lights do not function properly during the monsoons.
 
The new systems are fixed on 15-ft high poles. Two lights of 24 watts are fitted in opposite directions.  The lights are swicthed on at 6.30 pm and go off at 6 am the next day. Timers are installed for the purpose.
 
Mescom street lights have two tubes of 40 watts. Solar lights have two bulbs of 24 watts.  The illumination from solar light is slightly dim.  Though citizens may not be satisfied with the amount of light, it will save electricity.
 
Though 58 solar lights are fixed, the Mescom street lights have not been removed but only the connecting wires are removed. Only solar lights are being used at the moment.  The maintenance will be handled by a contractor for the next two years.
 
The municipality has spent Rs 36,000 for each solar street light, totally amounting to Rs 18,56,000.
 
The municipality will be a model in the state during the next five years, says Gopalakrishna Shetty, chief official at the Karkala municipality.  "Latest technology is being used in the lights.  Positive thinking enables development," he said.