LED sales to resume at EB offices in 3 northern districts

It may be recalled that EESL started sale of these appliances in Chennai EB payment offices two years ago and though 22 sales counters were started initially in 22 TNEB offices, the number has now dwindled to 12 in the city, sources revealed.

Similar services that were started in the three districts of Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram, more than a year ago, was later suspended due to problems with local distributors.

Chennai EESL DGM R Ramesh said, “We plan to reopen the sales counters within the next two months as there was good public patronage. Other than Chennai, sales outlets attached to EB offices function in 15 districts across the State.

While Vellore has ranked second with a sale of 1.44 lakh units and Madurai achieved the top spot with 1.57 lakh units. Kancheepuram has won the third place by selling 1.25 lakh units, officials said. At the bottom of the table were Kanniyakumari (2,050 units), Ariyalur (2,285 units) and Sivaganga (6,387 units).

At the national level, TN with sale volume of 32.11 lakh units ranks far behind than north Indian states like UP (2.5 crore units), Maharashtra (2.18 crore units), Bihar (1.89 crore units) and MP (1.72 crore units). Of the five southern States AP (2.19 crore units), Karnataka (2.09 crore units) and Kerala (1.50 crore units). The poor sale in TN could be attributed to the delay in taking policy decisions on Statewide sales, sources said.

However, tube light sale was stopped for the last three months – despite selling 5.50 lakh units in five months across Tamil Nadu – owing to damages caused to the appliances during transportation. The issue would be resolved in a week, the officials said.

The sale in TN till date includes 1.14 lakh fans, 32.11 lakh bulbs and 5.43 lakh tubelights. A recent decision of local administration of the TN Government to switch over to LED products has come as big boost to EESL Chennai.