High-mast lights, once installed with much fanfare, have started to burn a hole in the coffers of the city Corporation, forcing it to review these lighting systems across the city. The issue came up for discussion at the Corporation council meeting held on Thursday. Works standing committee chairperson S. Shafeera Beegum’s proposal to replace metal halide (MH) lights in a high-mast at Karamana Junction with LED lights sparked off the discussion.
It was found that the particular high-mast, installed six years ago, has led to the local body shelling out significant sums as electricity charges. Only four of the 12 lights in it functioned. A study recommended replacing them with LED lamps and installing timer switch to reduce power consumption.
In view of similar assessments, the Corporation has decided to restrict installation of further high-mast lights in the city. Mayor V.K. Prasanth said that while the pending requests for erecting such lights using the funds sanctioned by MPs and MLAs had been approved, he had written to the people’s representatives to inform the civic body’s stance so as to discourage them from sanctioning any more funds for high-mast lamps.
85,000 lamps
He added that the Corporation would take stock of the cost-effectiveness of the existing street lights, roughly numbering around 85,000. Students pursuing the wireman and electrical courses at Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) will be roped in to undertake a study to assess various factors, including the type of lights, current situation as well as the width of adjoining roads.
Many councillors were critical of the inordinate delay, in some cases up to eight months, in issuing orders for tar-cutting work for laying utility cables. The Mayor directed the officials concerned to ensure the completion of the technical formalities within a month of the work being sanctioned.
Acrimonious end
The council meet concluded on an acrimonious note with councillors belonging to rival parties sparring over the repercussions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The implementation of the GST has led to an increase in the price of application forms for various services provided by the Corporation, said Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar.
With the LDF and UDF councillors elaborating on the hardships created by the implementation of GST, they were countered by the BJP members who accused them of politicising the issue and portraying the tax reform as a major disaster.
