JMC’s 1,000-daily streetlight repair drive falters amidst EESL’s ‘non-cooperation’

EESL accountability in question as complaints pile up; installation of new lights stalled

Jammu: The Jammu Municipal Corporation's (JMC) ambitious plan to repair 1,000 non-functional and damaged street lights daily and illuminate the city’s darkened streets has faltered due to alleged “non-cooperation” of the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), the private agency hired for the job.
The situation is compounded by unwarranted delays in addressing thousands of complaints related to defunct street lights, leaving residents frustrated and lanes in perpetual darkness. The situation is further aggravated by a backlog of pending requests for installation of new street lights.
Officials from JMC’s electric wing deployed in different wards, speaking anonymously, claimed that they are over-burdened as they are tasked to manage the electrical infrastructure of three to four municipal wards. “The workload makes it nearly impossible for us to address all complaints effectively. We don't even have sufficient material to repair non-functional street lights,” they said.
“We are aware that the complaints about defective lights either remain unaddressed or go unresolved for weeks or even months. This sluggish pace of repair has drawn criticism from residents who rely on these essential services for safety and mobility during nighttime,” said a civic body official of the electrical wing who was assigned to repair three street lights after the EESL failed to perform its task even after a month of complaint.
“The decision to outsource repairs to EESL was initially hailed as a forward-thinking move to expedite resolutions. Unfortunately, poor monitoring and enforcement of the contract have rendered this arrangement virtually ineffective,” the official said, adding that it remains unclear if payment delays to EESL are contributing to the agency’s lackluster performance.
Another official claimed that the laxity on the part of the EESL personnel has also stalled the installation of new street lights, further compounding safety concerns. “EESL’s inefficiency has heightened fears for women and children who walk through poorly lit areas, emphasizing the urgent need for effective intervention,” he added.
Adding to the irony is the inaction of JMC authorities, who appear to be merely observing the situation without taking punitive measures against the private agency responsible for the repair work and fixing its accountability.
“The EESL has failed to deliver on its commitments, and yet no action has been initiated against it, reasons best known to higher-ups in the civic body. Despite repeated failures by EESL, no action has been taken against the agency, leaving us questioning the civic body’s commitment to public safety,” said Raghav, a resident of Gangyal.
Ajay Khajuria, said “The authorities must hold EESL accountable for its shortcomings and establish a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure timely repairs and installations,” she said.
Pertinently, JMC Commissioner, Dr. Devansh Yadav, in September this year, had announced that as many as 1,000 street lights would be repaired daily by mobilizing all available resources with the civic body.
When contacted, S.P Singh, Executive Engineer (Xen) Electric, JMC, surprisingly defended the EESL, claiming that there was nothing wrong with the agency. “The people create noise if there is some delay in repairing the street lights. The agency has been performing its task well”.
The JMC Commissioner remained inaccessible for comments.

Updated On 11/29/2024 2:36:26 AM