Even as the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) is spearheading the campaign to achieve ‘Smart City’ status from the Union government to get additional funds for taking up various developmental works, there are many complaints about the MCK authorities failing to replace defunct, damaged and non-functional streetlights in Karimnagar town.
Karimnagar town is growing in leaps and bounds, but the authorities have failed to provide basic amenities to the residents despite collecting huge amounts in taxes. Several colonies and main roads in all 50 municipal divisions remain dark following non-functioning of streetlights. Several streetlights were damaged and burnt due to rain and hailstorms recently, forcing residents to live in darkness. However, municipal authorities did not visit the colonies to oversee the functioning of streetlights.
Every day more than 20 streetlights are being damaged or remain non-functional in various parts of the town, but the authorities do not replace them regularly on the pretext of non-availability of spare parts and tube lights, etc.
Anti-social elements
People living in Baghathnagar, Ramachandrapur, Katta Rampur and other colonies on the outskirts are forced to live in darkness and are worried because of threat from anti-social elements, who consume liquor in the open and create nuisance. The residents also complain that hooligans damage streetlights in an inebriated condition.
Concern for women
It has also become a cause for concern for women as they were scared of chain-snatchers and burglars. The residents have informed the authorities concerned so as to ensure that the authorities regularly supervise the functioning of streetlights by visiting the colonies after switching them on.
When contacted, Mayor S. Ravinder Singh said that there was shortage of tube lights in the municipality, but they have secured 700 additional streetlights and are fixing them very soon. He also said that they were also installing LED lights on the main roads to reduce the power bill.
