Rourkela: The administration had planned to put up high mast lights at strategic places in three blocks such as Nuagaon, Bishra and Lathikata vulnerable to the rising menace of extremists and elephants under the rural high mast lighting. However, the programme is far from its goal for many reasons.
The systems have been put up in 18 out of 20 panchayats under Nuagaon block while Lathikata has the lighting systems in five of its 19 panchayats. The Bishra block has installed hardly one or two lighting systems.
A single installation of high mast lights costs between Rs 18 and Rs 25 lakh. An organisation chosen by the district rural development department has got the tender. However, it was alleged that the contractor is neither following the department’s directions nor adhering to the guidelines.
Poles are fixed in holes that are not deep enough as it is required and the base is left uncemented. This is why at some places the poles have become loose and are shaking at mild wind. They have made easy targets for miscreants.
It was alleged that at some places the light systems are lying out of order while at other places, power supply to the poles is cut off due to non-payment of electricity dues.
The selection of spots is also alleged to be defective. The fringe areas of these three blocks are earmarked as elephant corridors where man-elephant conflict is a regular phenomenon. But they do not have such facilities.
When contacted, Nuagaon pancahayat officer Prashant Sinha said the facility is a success in his block. No neglect had been noticed so far.
Lathikata GPO Ganesh Nayak said five panchayats of the block have the lighting system funded under the MP LAD scheme. Other areas would have the facility once finance is made available, he added.
Likewise Bishra block GPO Shyamsundar Patel said two to three panchayats have this facility and all of them are working properly. PNN
