The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Power Department to complete the illumination of street lamps in Laitumkhrah area of the city within four months from today.
The order was issued by the division bench of the High Court today during the hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) by local resident Wankitbok Pohshna.
The court also directed the Power Department and Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to address first the corner areas or the turning points of Laitumkhrah before the other areas are serviced.
During the hearing, the MeECL and Shillong Municipal Board informed the court that 226 of the 323 streetlights have been restored in ward number 1 to 4 of the Laitumkhrah area.
The Power Department told the High Court that the supplies for the remaining streetlights have been sought and it is expected that such supplies would be effected within the next two months.
The department also clarified that the streetlights are not being installed at new positions, but the lack of maintenance over a period of time had resulted in most of the streetlights not functioning.
The High Court also today disposed of the PIL “since the matter complained of has been substantially taken care of and the fact that the respondents have indicated a timeline within which the rest of the work is expected to be completed.”
“In the unlikely event that the work is not completed within the next five months, the petitioner or any other like-minded individual may bring the matter to the notice of the court,” the High Court said.
