SRINAGAR: Over 1.88 lakh LED street lights have been installed across Jammu and Kashmir under the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) till March 31, 2025, the Government of India informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
In response to a question, Minister of Power Manohar Lal, said that the Government of India launched SLNP in 2015 to improve energy efficiency in public lighting by installing LED street lights in urban and rural areas. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the Ministry of Power, is responsible for implementing the initiative.
“As of March 31, 2025, a total of 1,88,860 LED street lights have been installed across Jammu and Kashmir, while Ladakh is yet to be covered under the programme,” he said.
SLNP has significantly reduced power consumption nationwide, resulting in an estimated annual electricity savings of 8.8 billion kWh and financial savings of Rs 6,178 crore for municipalities and local bodies.
The programme is a self-financing initiative executed by EESL, with no direct budget allocation from the central government. It operates on a revenue-sharing model with state governments and urban local bodies.
While implementation has been largely smooth, EESL faces outstanding payments of Rs 2,700.54 crore from various states and urban local bodies, which remains a challenge. The Ministry of Power is actively engaging with the concerned authorities to ensure the timely release of dues.
Although Ladakh has not yet been covered under SLNP, future expansion is expected to focus on strategic urban and rural areas to enhance connectivity and energy efficiency in the region. (KNO)
