High Mast Light brings Zilla Parishad in Poor light

Wastage of Tax Payers’ Money by SA Zilla Parishad??

 

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, June 06: The high Mast Light of Brichgunj, installed nearly five years back has not been commissioned yet. Villagers of Brichgunj area allege that funds sanctioned for installation of these costly High Mast Lights have been siphoned off for no reasons as since last five years the HML has not been switched on even for a single day.

Andaman Sheekha gathered information that long back the Zilla Parishad of South Andaman had installed series of such High Mast Lights in South Andaman and some of these have not been even pressed into service yet, for some fishy reasons.

“Installation of each such High Mast Light costs around Rs. 7 to 15 Lakhs as per the deal, fixed by some elected representatives and the suppliers. Naturally in these mouth water deals the kick backs are also very high and once the deals is fixed no one ever bothers to check whether these lights are serving people,” complained an old resident of Brichgunj.

When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Pradhan of Brichgunj Mr. C Manaf, he directly held Zilla Parishad of South Andaman responsible for this.

“They have installed this and want us to pay the electric bills. There are two such HMLs in my constituency and electric charges for each HML will be around Rs. 25,000 per month, which means Rs. 50,000 per month for both the HMLs. My Panchayat can’t afford this cost,” Mr. Manaf added.

However, no one from South Andaman Zilla Parishad was available to comment on this issue even after repeated attempt.

This is yet another example how openly the South Andaman Zilla Parishad is siphoning off Tax Payers’ money for no reasons. Such HMLs have been purchased without any plan and now these HMLs are being shoved down the throat of Panchayats.

Residents urge the Lt. Governor to pay a visit to the area and witness how openly, funds allotted for the benefit of villagers are being wasted by Zilla Parishad. An anti-corruption inquiry in this entire issue will surely reveal much more facts.