Poor street lighting concerns House panel

SHILLONG:  Taking a tough stand on poor street lighting in the capital city and its surrounding areas, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the State Assembly has directed the CEO of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), E Kharmalki and the CMD of MeECL, PS Thangkhiew to hold a review meeting to find a solution to this problem.
Speaking to reporters after a review meeting of the PAC with the officials of the Power Department led by Principal Secretary P.K. Srivastava, the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Lyngdoh said, “We discussed the issue of poor street lighting in details starting from the procurement of the raw materials to the poor quality of the procured raw materials.”
“In this regard the officials of the power department assured the PAC that in the next 2-3 months there will be improvement in the delivery of proper street lighting to the people,” he said.
As far as the quality of raw materials is concerned, Lyngdoh said that the matter would be discussed by MeECL and SMB.
Meanwhile, PAC member Ronnie V. Lyngdoh expressed concern over the fact that in rural places an occupancy certificate from the MUDA is needed even for the extension of one room.
He said that MUDA did not specify on how to get an occupancy certificate because even the MeECL did not get any clear directive from MUDA on the issue. He informed that he will soon summon MUDA to clear the matter.