Hubli
Yielding to pressure and a rising number of complaints over absence of streetlights, the power department has replaced more than 3,500 defunct streetlights in the twin cities.
The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) recently released Rs 2 lakh for each ward under the civic body to have the lights replaced. SM Ganachari, in-charge of the electrical division at HDMC, said based on the complaints, we have replaced 3,500 streetlights. Another 500 will be replaced soon. He added that the Corporation was awaiting an approval from the government to install LED streetlights all across the twin cities.
Shanta Hiremath, a resident of ward No 80, said, it’s indeed helpful that the officials have initiated a drive to replace defunct streetlights. In this ward alone, more than 25 streetlights were non functional. Thankfully, most of those have been replaced.
Social activist Keshav Badanatti said in Bengeri and other areas of the twin cities, residents have been grappling with the issue of defunct streetlights for long, but repeated complaints lodged with Corporation elicited little or no response. Sources said, on an average, the Municipal Corporation control room receives more than 200 complaints daily, pertaining to defunct streetlights, with many being repeat plaints.
