Installation of new LED lights casts a shadow of doubt

LUDHIANA: The project for installation of new LED lights to replace existing sodium/mercury vapor street lights at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar colony developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) on Pakhowal Road here has been mired in a bit of controversy with residents alleging that the contractor had taken up the work to replace the sodium/mercury vapor lamps with LED lights without laying underground cables, wherever required, as mandated in the work order.

Work of installation of new LED lights at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar has been mired in controversy. Tribune photo

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, March 31

The project for installation of new LED lights to replace existing sodium/mercury vapor street lights at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar colony developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) on Pakhowal Road here has been mired in a bit of controversy with residents alleging that the contractor had taken up the work to replace the sodium/mercury vapor lamps with LED lights without laying underground cables, wherever required, as mandated in the work order.

“The contractor assigned the project of installation of LED lights in the colony has virtually put the cart before the horse. Rather than first laying underground cables, wherever required, as per the terms and conditions of the work order issued by the LIT, the LED lamps are being fitted onto the street light points,” says a complaint lodged by residents of the colony to the Local Government Department and top officials of LIT.

The complaint said as per the LIT officials, the estimate prepared for the project provided for laying new underground cables where lights were working with overhead wires as well as replacement of damaged underground cables wherever required before installation of new LED lights.

“However, the contractor had commenced replacement of lights without undertaking the work for laying new or replacement of damaged underground cables. Surprising, when the LIT officials were intimated, they feigned complete ignorance about the questionable working of the contractor,” alleged the residents.

The LIT Superintending Engineer RK Garg confirmed that work allotted to the contractor for installation of new LED lights in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar indeed provided for laying new underground cables and replacement of damaged (underground) cables, wherever required, and any street light point with overhead cables would not be entertained for payment.

Trust Engineer Buta Ram said the contractor had chosen to fit LED lamps in the existing street light points as a matter of his convenience before completing the work for laying/replacing underground cables. “The contractor has been asked to stop fitting LED lights and told to finish the work for laying underground cables. The entire work carried out in this regard would be thoroughly checked to make sure that it conformed to the terms and conditions of the work order,” he added.