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Dhumal launches CFL scheme

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Friday launched the ambitious ‘Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna’ under which every household of the State would get four Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) free of cost.

Mr. Dhumal launched the scheme at the Independence Day function at Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district.

He distributed CFL’s packs to domestic consumers belonging to freedom fighter and Kargil martyrs families.

All 16.5 lakh domestic consumers of the State would be provided four lamps each as replacement of as many incandescent lamps under the scheme named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The scheme is being implemented through Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) at a cost of Rs.80 crore.

There would be one-and-half years of guarantee on every CFL, sources in the HPSEB said. A 20-watt CFL lamp produces the same lumens as a 100 watt incandescent lamp, they said.

After installation of these CFL bulbs, consumers would benefit due to reduction in their energy bill to the tune of 30 to 40 per cent per month, the HPSEB said in a release.

The total energy saving is anticipated to the extent of 270 million units, they said.

The Himachal Pradesh police on Friday shed their colonial khaki uniform for a smarter blue dress.

The State police personnel wore a new outfit at the Independence Day function in Sirmour district which was attended by the Chief Minister.

While the police wore dark blue trousers, light blue shirt and a blue cap with a decorative yellow flower on its top, shoes and belt remained black.

West Bengal and Goa police have also bid adieu to the khaki uniform introduced by the British empire in 1861 for blue but the colour of their shirt is white.

Additional Inspector-General of Police and State police spokesperson V.K. Dhawan said that the new uniform would be worn by 14,000 police personnel from constables up to the rank of inspector including Station House Officer (SHOs).

MR. Dhawan said since the IPS officers are governed by the rules of the central government, a separate order has to be taken from the Union government to change their uniform.

Earlier, the former Director General of Police, Ashwani Kumar, who is now CBI Director, had got the sanction of the State government for change of uniform. The objective behind the exercise was to shed the image of the British era, he said.

During his Independence Day speech, Mr. Dhumal hoped citizens’ fear of police will be reduced from now on. PTI

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Dhumal launches CFL scheme

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