A resident of Laitumkhrah has raised the issue of non-functional street lights in the locality and other parts of the city as residents as well as commuters are having a tough time.
Out of the 323 streetlights, 195 of them are either non-functional or damaged while 31 new streetlights were installed under the SUWP 2020-21 in Laitumkhrah area alone, Wankitbok Pohshna said quoting a RTI reply from the office of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).
“The reality on the ground seems to be different from the data provided by the SMB while the citizens are at the receiving end since there is no one to flag this issue to the government,” he said.
Even though there seems to be no reason that street lighting in the heart of the city should lack maintenance since citizens pay tax for the same, it has however come as a surprise to many that they are not routinely checked or repaired, he said.
Pohshna further said non-functional streetlights has caused inconvenience for the citizens citing example of Laitumkhrah, which is facing difficulty to check on theft cases or other illegal activities.
“At time when the state is gearing to celebrate 50 years of statehood lack of such basic amenities to municipal taxpaying citizens only highlights the lackadaisical approach of the authorities towards its citizens, he added.
He said that he has written to the CEO of the board informing him that almost 65 per cent of the streetlights in Ward 1 to Ward 4 under Laitumkhrah are non-functional or damaged.
