The Electric Lamp and Component Manufacturers' Association of India (ELCOMA), representing the Indian lighting industry, has asked State Governments to provide duty and tax concessions to promote energy-saving and environment-friendly products.
Of late, the industry has faced an increase in the cost of Triband Phosphorous powder, which is the main ingredient used in many energy-saving products such as CFLs and T5 lamps. These energy-saving and environment-friendly products can serve to arrest pollution and save energy, said Mr C.G.S. Mani, the newly appointed President of the Association.
Mr Mani, who was here in connection with a meeting, said Triband Phosphorous powder, that was available at $45 per tonne earlier, had risen to $430 per tonne. However, the product was currently traded around $250-280 per tonne. He said that 80 per cent of the powder used worldwide was sourced from China and the country had unilaterally raised prices.
The Indian lighting industry has been growing steadily at 10 to 12 per cent over the last few years and was worth Rs 7,994 crore as of 2010.
Expressing concern about mercury in lamps, Mr Mani said the Association has taken up with various State Governments the need for promoting energy-saving equipments and, thereby, enabling platforms for the resurgence of environment-friendly product categories such as LEDs, besides the safe disposal of mercury containing lamps. The body also promotes LED for a clean environment.
ELCOMA continues to interact with various International Lighting Councils to build a healthy relationship, he said, adding that the Association together with the Government has financed a Master Plan Study by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) to find possible ways of disposing mercury left over in light products.
“I believe much can be done to take this industry forward by addressing issues of national importance like energy-saving initiatives,” he said.
Mr Mani, who is also the business unit head of the Lighting Division at Bajaj Electricals, said the association continued to build healthy relationships with various Government departments and States for reduction of taxes and duty on energy-saving products, he added.