EESL charging 2 crore 17 lakh quarterly from JMC for maintenance of street lights but 50 percent street lights are not working and also at some places they have been installed unplanned manner

EESL project was signed between govt and Housing Board and JMC in first phase project costing Rs 64 crores and after that they again increased in second phase worth Rs 36 crores .Last year again new tender floated worth Rs 1 crore for installing solar lights in streets and parks but 70 percent solar lights are not working and there is nobody for maintenance of solar lights and those working remain on for 24 hours as there are no switch for on and off which JMC totally ignored
Despite Contractors of JMC complained before Lt Governor Sinha alleging embezzlement/scam by superannuated Head Draftsman Raman Gupta when he was posted in the electric Division of Jammu Municipal Corporation by leaking confidential data of tenders to blue eyed contractors while accepting huge amount of bribe . Contractors further alleged that important JMC documents, tender files and approvals which were approved /issued by the higher authorities of JMC got deliberately missing from the office record
Residents are not aware of functioning of EESL control room for lodging the complaints regarding streetlight repairs. Street lights in the city have been causing frequent accidents for commuters. Residents said they have complained numerous times but their complaints have not been acted upon. In several areas street lights have been defunct from long time, posing a major threat to commuters at night
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, jun 22
Jammu Municipal Corporation is duty bound to ensure functioning of street lights along with JPDCL and EESL team. However complaints are pouring in about defunct streetlights from almost all the 75 wards. We are sure that residents of 75 Municipal Wards may not be knowing that EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) a Centre Sponsored Scheme had installed 61300 street lights in 2018 and since then they have been charging 2 crore 17 lakh quarterly from JMC for maintenance but using JMC lineman and staff despite the project is outsourced Moreover from the public complaints 50 percent street lights are not working and also at some places they have been installed unplanned manner. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has failed in maintaining the streetlights in 75 Municipal Wards. It deserves mentioning here that EESL project was signed between govt and Housing Board and JMC in first phase project costing Rs 64 crores and after that they again increased in second phase worth Rs 36 crores. Last year again new tender floated worth Rs 1 crore for installing solar lights in streets and parks but 70 percent solar lights are not working and there is nobody for maintenance of solar lights and those working remain on for 24 hours as there are no switch for on and off which JMC totally ignored. Earlier, the JMC’s electrical wing staff used to repair streetlights on receiving complaints, now, the officials concerned say that the EESL is entrusted with the task of maintenance if residents complain about non-functioning of streetlights. Worthwhile to mention here that Executive Engineer Electrical Division, Jammu Municipal Corporation is authorized authority to look into all the issues in Municipal areas with regard to power supply including street lights and solar lights. Moreover Contractors of JMC complained before Lt Governor Sinha vide complaint receipt No. 3368 vide No. PS/LG/2023/2226-R dated 30-5-2023 which was received by LG Secretariat on 30-5-2023 alleging embezzlement/scam by corrupt and dead wood Head Draftsman Raman Gupta when he was posted in the electric Division of Jammu Municipal Corporation by leaking confidential data of tenders to blue eyed contractors while accepting huge amount of bribe . Contractors further alleged that important JMC documents, tender files and approvals which were approved /issued by the higher authorities of JMC got deliberately missing from the office record. This is one of the reasons why street lights and solar lights are not functioning properly and also required number of these lights have not been installed but so far JMC has not held anyone responsible for this huge mess even when paying worth crores quarterly to EESL. Furthermore after the retirement of Executive Engineer Electrical Division, JMC Lakshman Singh who was appointed on deputation basis on 28-2-2022, no one has been appointed as executive Engineer and the charge has been given to AEE. This deserves mentioning here that Lakshman Singh is also facing vigilance/ACB trial after he was accused of misusing of old street lights and in Parks from the store besides missing of vital files having details of water coolers installed in Municipal wards and also repairing of departmental refrigerators and ACs. When such is the condition of electric division of JMC totally wrapped in corrupt practices, one can easily guess the proper functioning of street lights and also solar lights costing JMC worth crores quarterly being paid to EESL. Moreover, the EESL has failed to make grievance cell active to receive complaints from people and rectify them. Moreover EESL has failed to set up Centralized Control Monitoring System (CCMS). Now, majority of CCMS are not functioning. Residents are not aware of functioning of EESL control room for lodging the complaints regarding streetlight repairs. Street lights in the city have been causing frequent accidents for commuters. Residents said they have complained numerous times but their complaints have not been acted upon. The street lights/solar lights have been defunct from long time, posing a major threat to commuters at night. “There shouldn’t be dark spots on any roads, especially at crucial points. A major accident is imminent if the lights aren’t repaired soon. These dark spot also invite crime and nefarious activities; road stretch is hardly visible at night. The situation gets worse after rain. It is the duty of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to look after of proper functioning of street light as resident pay proper tax and fee for these services also. Residents of the city are facing problems while commuting in darkness. No maintenance of the street light is being done by the company and neither the work of street light is complete. Moreover, already installed street lights are either fuse or not working being of highly substandard quality. Authorities must make commutes safer and fix the lights at the earliest.