The administrative wing of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) might have won laurels for their initiative to install energy saving streetlights, but local councillors are facing the ire of residents of newly constructed societies for absence of streetlights.

The councillors, on their part, say they are no more allowed to use their grants on streetlights and the responsibility now lies with the residents of the respective societies.

“As far as the internal roads of residential societies are concerned, installation of streetlights is no more the responsibility of the VMC. We are trying to explain to the residents of new societies about the change in rules,” said Subodh Shah, Executive Engineer, Streetlight Department, VMC.

He added, “Today, there are about 60,000 streetlight poles across the city and we pay Rs 75 lakh towards electricity bills to the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited. Annually, we spend about Rs 13 crore, including maintenance cost.”

The councillors get maximum requests and complaints from the middle and lower middle-class families in the western parts of the city and slum dwellers in the eastern parts.

“Those belonging to higher middle-class families can afford the electricity bills and maintenance charges of streetlights in their societies. But for a lower middle-class family, it is impossible to shell out even Rs 300 on electricity bills and maintenance,” said Mamta Kale, Councillor, ward number 15.

Similarly, in ward number five, which comprises maximum number of slum pockets, this has been a longstanding issue. “It is true that residents approach us with a lot of expectations. But we are helpless due to technical reasons. The issue has been discussed on a number of times, but no concrete step has been taken,” said Sonal Patel, a local councillor.

... contd.