With the abysmal power situation in the state, city civic bodies have begun adopting power-saving measures. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has decided to reduce the illumination of advertising hoardings and streetlights. With these cutbacks, the civic body is hoping to save 5 million units per month. Of the total 3,300 advertising hoardings in the city, 40 per cent are “lit hoardings” and kiosks. The GHMC has instructed advertising agencies not to illuminate the hoardings until further instructions. GHMC commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu said that violation of these instructions will be viewed seriously and action will be taken against the violators.
Mr Krishna Babu said that in several areas, the maintenance staff of the electrical wing was switching on the streetlights by 5 pm and leaving them on till 8 am the next day. The commissioner has now instructed the maintenance staff of the GHMC electrical wing to switch on the streetlights only after 7 pm and to switch them off before 5 am the next day. The commissioner has said that the GHMC was utilising 20 million units of electricity per month for maintenance of streetlights, water supply to peripheral areas and for other purposes. He said that the civic body is planning to conserve 20-25 per cent of the electricity and conserve 5 million units per month this way. All government officials have also been directed to conserve power in their offices.