Non-functional street lights create problem for residents

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 17

Non-functioning street lights at the Chaheru locality near Lovely Professional University on Jalandhar-Phagwara GT Road have emboldened thieves and snatchers to commit crimes.

Residents of the area said, no development had taken place in the area since last many years. The area is the major spot for paying guests as number of students of LPU are living here as PGs but due to poor maintenance of roads and defunct street lights they are facing difficulties crossing the stretch during late hours, they added.

They alleged that the stretch had become a haven for anti-social elements. It is quite challenging for the commuters to cross this stretch in the evening.

Mukesh Chauhan, a resident, said, “The roads have not been repaired here for a long time. There are pits and ditches on the roads everywhere. The condition of the road becomes even worst during the rainy season. Apart from that many accidents are taking place due to poor road and non-functional street lights. At night people sometimes stumble down.”

Moreover, these pits provide breeding ground for the mosquitoes. Thus there is an outbreak of mosquitoes in the locality leading to the spread of malaria, he added.

He further said only a few street lights are functioning, while a majority of the lights are out of order. It has caused a spurt in the incidence of crime in the area. People do not find it safe to go out of their houses. There are frequent incidents of chain snatching in the evening hours.

Sonu, another resident said, “Snatchings, burglaries and thefts have become the order of the day in the locality. The hooligans after committing crimes take advantage of the darkness and safely run away.”

Ravneet Kaur, a commuter, said, “Everyday, I have to cross this 1.5-km deserted road on my two-wheeler to reach my office. In the morning, due to rush of people going to office I don’t face any trouble while covering the stretch. But when I have to return from the office, I have to call my parents to come on the main road.”

Moreover, a number of suspicious persons are found in the area in the evening, which creates fear among commuters, she added.