Greenpeace proposes solar street lights for Delhi's dark spots

Amidst increasing incidents of crime and accidents due to lack of street lights in Delhi, Greenpeace India today proposed lighting up of dark spots in the city using solar street light systems to make such areas safe for women and children.
The international NGO, currently embroiled in a controversy over its fundings, launched a report on clean electricity today, which was prepared in partnership with National Institute of Urban Affairs.
Stating that Delhi has at least 700 dark spots, the report recommended that over the next five years, existing street lights should be replaced with LEDs and remaining deficits of lights be met with only stand alone solar street lights - both energy saving solutions.

Furthermore, in the next ten years, every existing street light could be retro-fitted with solar panels as well, one of the report's recommendations said.
The NGO said that Delhi has been witnessing increasing incidence of crime and accidents and inadequate lighting on streets, which are known more by the number of dark spots than connectivity, increase risk.
"Increased inconsistency of street lighting can lead to increase in cases of theft, eve-teasing and stalking, and even rape," it said.

"India's developmental challenges do not need repetitive rhetoric, it needs creative solutions. Greenpeace's sustainable street lighting proposal is a creative solution that not only addresses the issue of women's safety, but also helps Delhi save taxpayer money in the long run, and adopt a non-polluting pathway," Pujarini Sen, Climate and Energy Campaigner for Greenpeace India, said.

"The AAP-led Delhi government had identified finding solutions to the dark spots in the city as a priority and this lays out a blueprint on how it can deliver on this.
"Greenpeace calls on Manish Sisodia (Urban Development minister) to take the first steps towards lighting up the dark spots in Delhi," the statement said.
Greenpeace India is under government's scanner for allegedly violating various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The Centre had in April blocked its bank accounts following which the environmental group had to seek interim relief from Delhi High Court.
Soon after Delhi High Court's recent order allowing it to use two of its accounts, Greenpeace had stated that it will launch its campaign on clean air and clean electricity.