Street lights being repaired

November 24: Streetlights are being vandalized and broken in many areas in Thimphu even as they are being put in place. This is causing problems for concerned authorities as well as the public.

Every day eight men from the electricity section of the Thimphu City Corporation go around the capital repairing the street lights. In a day they repair about seven to eight street lights. Some of the repair works are carried out after offices and residents complain.

Luv Kumar an Electrical Engineer with the City Corporation said people do not seem to understand the purpose of the streetlights.

Some areas are without streetlights after miscreants broke the street lights.

According to a Motithang resident Kezang Wangdi it is not safe to walk in the darkness along the street where there are no lights. He said one night while he was returning from his shop in Mothithang at about 9.30, two men jumped out of the darkness and asked him for money.

A girl in her twenties, a resident of Chubachu, said she was fondled while she was walking home.

According to police minor crime like car fuel thefts, harassments and burglary take place in nooks and corners where there are no street lights. To prevent crime, police patrol the streets at night in different areas in groups.

A police official said while they receive numerous calls, it is difficult to respond to every call. Some, he said make crank calls keeping the emergency telephone line engaged and at times making them send police personnel to the location identified by callers only to find that nothing has happened.