Streetlights in Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis Burn 24/7, Causing Massive Power Wastage and Unpaid Bills

Kalaiya. Bara's headquarters, Kalaiya Bazaar, is not only notorious for its disorganized crowds, loud noise, incessant vehicle honking, haphazard parking, and pervasive garbage, but also for streetlights that remain illuminated throughout the day.

Streetlights that should only be on at night are seen burning 24 hours a day. These lights only turn off automatically when they malfunction. Despite the constant illumination during the day in areas with high foot traffic, such as those near the Land Revenue Office, District Court, Survey Office, and District Coordination Office, the concerned authorities appear oblivious.

District Court Judge Prakash Adhikari comments that the city looks unsightly with streetlights burning all day when they should only be on at night. He requested media attention regarding the significant electricity leakage and the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis's lack of concern. "The lights on the electric poles in front of the court burn like this every day, and there is no switch to turn them off," said Judge Adhikari. "When streetlights meant for the night burn during the day, it not only causes electricity leakage but also makes the city look unsightly." He suggested the sub-metropolis install sensor-based lights.

Streetlights have been burning all day like this for years on over eight thousand poles across the 27 wards within the municipality. These streetlights were directly installed by the ward offices without providing switches to turn them off. The sub-metropolis consumes street lighting worth approximately 1.2 million rupees annually. However, this charge is not being paid to the Electricity Authority.

Local residents complain that despite informing the wards and the sub-metropolis about the streetlights burning 24 hours a day, no action has been taken. Sanjay Sah Kalwar, a resident of Ward No. 4 of Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis, states that switches to turn off the lights were not installed during the installation process. "We have asked the ward multiple times to install switches, but there has been no response," said Kalwar. "We haven't seen this in other municipalities, but it's like this everywhere within the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis."

Rameshwar Prasad Yadav, the Ward Chairman of Ward No. 4 of Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis, blamed the Electricity Authority for the issue. "We do not have a separate line arrangement for turning off the lights. The Authority should pay attention to this, and the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis should also cooperate," said Ward Chairman Yadav. "The Authority is doing the same thing in other wards of the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis."

The continuous burning of streetlights for 24 hours results in the misuse of public property, significant electricity leakage, and misappropriation of government revenue.

Sub-Metropolis's Electricity Arrears Reach 2 Crore

According to the Electricity Authority's Kalaiya Distribution Center, the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis has outstanding dues exceeding approximately 20 million rupees for electricity consumption. Dipendra Sah, a supervisor at the Authority's Kalaiya Distribution Center, states that the sub-metropolis is incurring huge losses due to the continuous billing for streetlights that burn 24 hours a day. "The streetlights are burning 24 hours a day, and they are being billed accordingly. By this calculation, the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis is suffering a huge loss," said Authority employee Sah. "We have received complaints from many places about this. We have informed the municipality many times, and they commit to taking action but do not follow through."

The Authority's Kalaiya Distribution Center reports that streetlights in many areas of the sub-metropolis are burning 24 hours a day. Sah mentioned that although the municipality was advised to install sensor lights that turn off during the day and only operate at night, there has been no response.

He attributed the situation to the municipality's negligence in securing a separate electricity line for the streetlights. "They are supposed to pay the electricity tariff for the streetlights, but they haven't paid to date," said Authority Supervisor Sah. "Streetlight consumption is equivalent to 1.2 to 1.5 million rupees annually."

Meanwhile, Nathu Sah, who served as the Chief Administrative Officer in the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis for four years and was transferred just last month, claims that the sub-metropolis is not required to pay electricity tariffs to the Authority for the use of streetlights, which is why they haven't paid until now. He argues that since the electric poles installed by the Authority fall within the local level's jurisdiction, the municipality is not obligated to pay the tariff.