GUWAHATI, April 22 � Lack of adequate streetlights on many areas of the city is turning out to be a major problem for the residents as such areas are recording high number of mobile and chain snatching cases.
Despite several major streetlight installation drives by the State government�s department concerned, and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), streets in many areas of the city do not have adequate lights in working condition.
�One cannot rely on the streetlights installed by the government. These lights may or may not illuminate the streets after nightfall. In our locality, we have streetlights but most of those are lying defunct,� Abani Sarma, a resident of Lachit Nagar area, said.
Residents of many other localities of the city have similar complaints. Lack of monitoring and regular repair work aggravates the problem.
�Incidents of chain and mobile snatching have increased in New Saraniya and South Saraniya areas. The bike riders vanish in darkness after snatching valuables. We have approached the authorities several times to provide adequate lights and repair the defunct ones,� Abdul Hannan, a local of south Saraniya said.
The authorities, however, feel that common people are not bothered about protecting public property of their area as their own property.
�We do not have adequate staff to monitor all the streets of the city regularly. Even if we receive complaints from many areas regarding the defunct streetlights, it�s not possible to always address those complaints immediately,� a senior GMC official said.
�Damage caused to light poles by the vehicles of local people is common in narrow lanes and bye-lanes of the city. It is also seen that streetlight are damaged by the people with vested interests. Such incidents could be avoided if the local people are a little alert and conscious about preserving public property,� he added.
The official, however, acknowledged that there is a dearth of adequate streetlights in the city. �We have plans to installs streetlights in some of the interior lanes and bye-lanes of the city. We would start working on the proposals as soon as we get funds for the purpose,� he mentioned.
