Civic body under fire for negligence

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, September 22

The Municipal Corporation (MC) is under fire for closing its eyes to a grave threat being posed to human lives by street light poles with naked electricity wires and open junction boxes in several city localities.

Ironically, the street poles where naked joints have been left uncovered and junction boxes remain open, have been installed recently in the city for LED lights, a project being undertaken under the 'smart city' mission.

Council of RTI Activists' president Rohit Sabharwal has filed a complaint with the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) saying electric poles on Mall Road, Ferozepur Road, Model Town, Link Road (near general bus stand) and many other localities have naked joints of dangling electricity cables and open junction boxes where a mishap could take place any time due to callousness of the MC and gross negligence on the part of the company entrusted with the job of installation of LED street lights in the city.

Sanharwal said, "It is the right of the citizens to live in a safe and secure environment and the (civic) administration is duty-bound to provide them the same. However, the Municipal Corporation officials, due to their careless working have breached the human right to live in a safe and secure environment."

The complainant has pleaded that as the matter deals with the safety of human life and violation of the human rights, it warranted the interference of the PHRC. He has sought intervention of the rights' panel and immediate directions to the MC authorities to properly insulate naked and exposed joints of electricity cables and keep the junction boxes securely closed so to avoid any mishap and harm to human lives in the city.

MC officials said the work for installation of new LED lights and maintenance had been handed over to a private company. "The matter of naked/exposed electricity cables and open junction boxes is being taken up with officials of the company at the appropriate level," they claimed.