In the wake of severe power shortage in the State, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has cracked the whip on advertising agencies to ensure judicious usage of available power.

The advertising agencies within the city limits were ordered not to illuminate hoardings from Saturday evening until further instructions.

GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu issued the instructions after a meeting with Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain on Saturday. “Violation of the instructions will be viewed seriously and action will be initiated against the violators,” said Krishna Babu. Incidentally, 40 per cent of the 3,300 hoardings in the city are illuminated after dark. “We can save much needed power if the illumination is halted,” the GHMC commissioner said.

Krishna Babu also instructed the maintenance staff of GHMC electrical wing to switch on and switch off streetlights at the right time. “Streetlights should be switched on after 7 pm only and should be switched off before 5 am,” he ordered. He said that it was noted that in several areas the maintenance staff was switching on streetlights by 5 pm and leaving them on till 8 am.

He opined that strict regulation of street lighting can save power consumption for 2 to 3 hours every day, which will amount to 20-25 per cent of the total electricity consumption. The GHMC is using 20 million units every month for streetlighting and provision of water supply to the city outskirts. “Also, we are planning to replace sodium vapour lights and tubelights with LED and CFL lamps. However, this plan is getting delayed due to court cases and fund arrangements,” the commissioner said.