Baramulla, April 05: The residents of Sopore town in North Kashmir have been facing tremendous inconvenience for the past six months due to the defunct streetlights.
Despite complaints, the authorities have not taken any action to repair them, leaving the town in darkness at night.
Locals said that the situation has caused safety concerns for the residents and highlights the lack of attention to basic infrastructure in the area.
They said that as the night falls, the town plunges into darkness, leaving residents feeling unsafe and vulnerable especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Despite the presence of streetlights in various locations, many remain defunct, exacerbating the problem.
“The lack of functional street lights along main roads, including Iqbal Market, Main Chowk, Shah Dargah Chowk, Bus Stand Road, Downtown, Chankhan Bridge, and Main Bazaar are creating a lot of problems especially during Sehri and Taraweeh times,” the locals said.
The absence of functional street lights has prompted frustration among residents, who claim that the concerned departments have not taken action to repair the existing streetlights or install new ones where necessary.
“While some high mast-lights were erected in the town a few years ago, they too function only occasionally,” Abdul Majeed Dar, a local shopkeeper said.
He stated that the authorities’ promise to install additional high-mast lights in bustling marketplace proved to be a “hoax”
The shopkeepers’ body told Rising Kashmir that they have brought the issue to the attention of the government and concerned officials on multiple occasions, but to no avail.
“The problem was also reportedly raised during the “My Town, My Pride” program, but the authorities have failed to take notice,” they added.
Massarat Kar, President Municipal Council Sopore, said that despite various departments installing street lights in the town, no concrete plan has been devised to address the issue of repairing defunct lights.
“The Public Works Department (PDD) has estimated a budget of rupees 15 lakhs for the repair of defunct streetlights in the area, however, the Municipal Council Sopore has only rupees 2 lakhs available for the repair work of important lights, which we utilize for repair of important lights,” she said.
Massarat further added that the majority of street lights in the area are currently not functioning.
The President MC Sopore said that her office has informed LG, Deputy Commissioner and other officials about the issue.
