Corpn fails to repair park's lights

Claims to have no spare parts to rectify them

A dysfunctional high-mast light in a municipal park in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar has become a pain in the neck of residents as alcoholics from illegal commercial shacks along the park’s boundary wall have a free run after sunset.

Some municipal functionaries claimed there are no spare parts to rectify the lights and others blamed a lack of accountability of the municipal contractor responsible for the maintenance of the park lights for the problem, according to residents.

“Despite local councillor Nutan Kochar and horticulture and electrical department officials of the south zone being approached by us, the high-mast lamps and other lights in the park have remained out of order for months,” said C M Kwatra, a representative of the NIL and 80 Block residents.

Sushma Narula, another area resident, said: “Women and children are afraid to remain in the park after dark as there have been incidents of mugging.”

“We badly need better lighting and CCTV cameras in and around the park,” said Narula, a financial consultant.

“Nobody seems to care for the law abiding citizens despite so much talk of citizen participation and mohalla sabha empowerment,” she said.

Another resident said the area MLA, Somnath Bharti, is also aware of the poor state of affairs but things have not changed.

“We have also tried to seek help from South Corporation’s Standing Committee Chairperson Subhash Arya but things just do not move,” said Devansh, an area resident.

An aide of Kochar said: “We have been in touch with the electrical engineers for the early redressal of the problem but they have been claiming there are no spares.”

An official in the electrical department of South Delhi Municipal Corporation claimed the contractor who has been awarded the contract for maintenance of light is facing labour problems.

“He has been telling us that his workers are unavailable,” said the official, adding that his contract was renewed in December.

 Meanwhile, encroachers along the triangular park’s boundary wall have been defying all zoning laws to occupy a pavement for running illegal shacks and dumping waste, including liquor bottles and food left overs in the park.

“The encroachment and the resultant congestion in the residential area can only be solved by strict action for freeing of public land of all illegal vendors and shops,” said another resident, alleging political protection for the law breakers.