The government of Maharashtra has directed its public works department (PWD) to switch usage to copper /cable wiring in its HIG/MIG category of houses and deposit works all over Maharashtra for the year 2002-03.
The decision comes as a booster for the International Copper Promotion Council (ICPCI) which has been trying to promote usage of copper in wiring of households instead of aluminium. The government directive should boost copper consumption overall. PWD manages both households and commercial projects.
Copper used in wiring offers advantges in terms of tensile strength, thermal conductivity, melting point and resistance levels besides operational and maintainence ease. In a letter, PWD stated,