Streetlights installed nearly a decade ago in Samdrupcholing’s new township in Samdrup Jongkhar have never been switched on. The project cost about Nu 3 M, but the system remains without electricity to this day. Residents now question why the infrastructure was built without ensuring a power connection and who is responsible for the delay.
Rows of streetlight poles line the roads of Samdrupcholing township. But when night falls, the area remains in darkness. The lights have never worked because the authorities never connected the system to electricity.
Officials installed the streetlights nearly nine years ago when the government developed the new township.
Since then, the infrastructure has remained unused. Bushes now cover many of the poles and bulbs, and some poles have already fallen.
“Some plot owners have constructed houses, but many have not, and their land has now turned into overgrown bushes. It doesn’t even look like a town. If we had streetlights, it would be much safer for us, especially as elephants frequently pass through this area. So, proper lighting is very important,” said Hari Krishna Gautam, a resident of Samdrupcholing.
“We keep wondering when the lights will come. It is very dark, and we depend on house lights. Moving around at night feels unsafe, so street lighting is very important,” said Norbu Yangzom, another resident of Samdrupcholing.
“They say this is a town, but we don’t even have a Tshogpa or Mangmi to look after our concerns. With elephants frequently passing through, it is very risky,” said Pushpa Lal Guragai, also a resident.
Samdrup Jongkhar District and Samdrupcholing Dungkhag administrations relocated about 30 residents from Tshangchhuthanma to the new township in 2016. Authorities installed streetlights as part of the township infrastructure.
However, only nine residents have built houses in the area so far.
The Samdrup Jongkhar District Administration says the streetlights remain non-functional because the township does not have an electric transformer.
Officials say they tried to install a transformer, but budget constraints delayed the work.
The district administration says it will look into the issue and work towards installing the transformer.
For now, the streetlights remain unused, despite the spending of about Nu 3 M of public funds.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
