PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) receives around 200 complaints about faulty street lights every day as monsoon rain makes repair work difficult and leaves several roads and lanes poorly lit after sunset.
Faulty street lights are making it harder for pedestrians and motorists to navigate narrow residential roads and lanes, while also raising concerns over safety after dark. MCD light inspector Ranjeet Rana said that the corporation normally receives about 50 street light complaints a day, but the number has increased nearly fourfold during the monsoon.
He said that repair work has also become risky during rainfall because of the possibility of electric shocks. “Four-five people have received electric shocks while trying to restore street-light connections. Two of our MCD personnel also received electric shocks,” Rana said.
The corporation has raised the issue with Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), but routine electrical repairs are currently being avoided during rain. Rana said that urgent complaints are attended to whenever rainfall stops and there is enough sunlight to carry out the work safely.
He added that a comprehensive repair of affected connections would be taken up after the monsoon. Complaints have been received from several parts of the city, including Rajpur, Vidya Vihar, Mohini Road, Pritam Road, Inder Road and Mohkampur Road. The corporation has also received complaints about street-light fixtures going missing from different locations.
Rana said that the sharp rise in complaints has put additional pressure on the street-light maintenance system, while frequent rainfall is reducing the time available for electrical repair work.
