Though the authorities claim to have restored 501 streetlights in the summer capital in the previous month, the residents of several areas said that the maximum of the street lights are lying defunct in their respective areas.Inhabitants of several areas including Dalgate, Lal Bazar, Habba Kadal Batamaloo and others said that the street lights in their respective areas are lying defunct from past several months while the concerned authorities are watching it as mute spectatorAccusing the SMC for ignoring their plights, the residents here have demanded immediate redressal of their grievances.The residents said that despite several reminders, the authorities here have miserably failed to look into the hardships faced the local population.
Inhabitants said that they fear to venture out in the evening hours, adding, “We even cannot go to Mosque for fear of stray dogs in darkness,” they said.They said that with the absence of street lights in their respective areas, the authorities are leaving them to face hardships. “If the authorities are reluctant to restore the street lights then what was the fun to install these lights in their areas,” inhabitants questioned.They appealed Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner to look into the matter and redress their genuine grievances on prior basis.Meanwhile, a senior official of SMC wishing anonymity told KNS that the process to restore the street lights has already been started. “We have directed the concerned officials to repair the street lights and hopefully, the street lights installed by the corporation would be restored soon,” he said. (KNS)