Team Herald
SANGUEM: With over 70 percent of the newly installed LED streetlights in Sanguem taluka having failed to brighten up the area, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar has appealed to the locals to take up the issue directly with the government.
At a press conference held at Sanguem Municipal office, Gaonkar castigated the contractor, who was awarded the contract of installation and maintenance of the LED streetlights, for total failure in running the affairs.
“While the contractor is not within the range, the ultimate brunt from the general public is faced by the elected representatives be it MLA, Councillors, Sarpanch or panchayat members,” claimed Gaonkar.
“As of now with a handful of workers employed by the contractor, the issue of repairing and reinstalling the fused streetlights has gone out of hands and there is no apt answer for the issue either from the contractor or the electricity department,” Gaonkar complained.
“The only option left for the people now is to approach the government in getting the streetlights repaired,” claimed Gaonkar adding that the issue is made all the more complicated given the non-availability of the chief minister in the State who holds the Power portfolio due to the illness suffered by the power minister.
“During the time when the tube-lights were in place, the MLAs or other elected representatives at the panchayat and municipality level could easily replace the fixtures and the tubes. However now, with everything in the hands of the contractor, the electricity department refuses to handle the LED lights. Moreover the high cost involved in replacing the LED lights also deters the representatives from taking up the replacement works,” Gaonkar informed.
With the Ganesh Chaturthi nearing closer, Gaonkar has appealed to the contractor and the authorities to replace the non-functional LED streetlights at the earliest as otherwise the people will have to face serious problems during the Ganesh Idol immersion ceremony.
During the press briefing, Gaonkar was accompanied by SMC Chairperson Romualdo Fernandes, councillors Queiroz Cruz, Rose Maria Fernandes, Sandesh Kossambe, Suryadatt Naik and Amita Mapari.
