SHILLONG, MAY 4: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the power department to complete illumination of turning points and corner areas in the city within four months’ time.
Disposing of a PIL filed by one Wankitbok Pohshna, the two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh said, “In view of the substantial work already completed and notwithstanding the petitioner’s entreaties that the turning or corner points should be illuminated on an urgent basis, the respondents are afforded four months from date to complete the illumination.”
During the hearing, the power department informed that 226 of the 323 streetlights have been restored in ward Nos. 1 to 4 of the Laitumkhrah area.
The power department further informed that the supplies for the remaining streetlights have been sought and it is expected that such supplies would be effected within the next two months.
It also clarified that the streetlights are not being installed at new positions, but the lack of maintenance over a period of time had resulted in most of the streetlights not functioning.
The court has directed that the state respondents to also keep in mind the reasonable request of the petitioner that the corner areas or the turning points should be addressed first before the other areas are serviced.
“Since the matter complained of has been substantially taken care of and the fact that the respondents have indicated a timeline within which the rest of the work is expected to be completed, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the matter pending,” it said.
Meanwhile, the court said in the unlikely event that the work is not completed within the next five months, the petitioner or any other like-minded individual may bring the matter to the notice of the Court.
By Our Reporter
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