Streetlighting issue dominates civic body meet

Councillors demand change of contractor

Pithapuram (East Godavari): The poor maintenance of street lights dominated the municipal council meeting held here on Sunday. All
councillors in the municipality irrespective of their party affiliation, deplored the poor maintenance of streetlights in the town. Stating that
several localities were in total darkness at night due to malfunctioning of streetlights, they flayed the municipal authorities for allotting
the lighting contract to a security guard in the civic body. Some councillors questioned the actual status of the security guard.

Municipal councillors Bodapati Padma, Masakapalli Raja, Khandavilli Lovaraju, Bangaru Dwaraka and others said they were finding it
difficult to interact with people in their wards due to malfunctioning of streetlights. The people’s complaints pertaining to malfunctioning
of streetlights in their localities were not being redressed promptly. The maintenance of streetlights should be entrusted to a new
contractor, they said.

In her reply to the issue raised by the councillors, in-charge municipal commissioner Madhavi said the services of the security guard were
being utilised as a lighting supervisor. The municipality was forced to continue the old contractor as no bids were received though it
invited tenders for the maintenance of streetlights this year. Steps would be taken to replace the malfunctioning streetlights, she
asserted.

Municipal councillor Seeram Apparao threatened to go on indefinite hunger strike, if the civic body failed to ensure proper maintenance of
streetlights in the town within one month.

The meeting also discussed disbursement of social welfare benefits, improvement of sanitation in the town and other people’s issues.
Municipal vice-chairman Pilli Chinna, councillors Koruprolu Srinu, Nama Dorababu and others also took part in the discussion.