Thieves steal gas cylinder; Nizampet residents blame malfunctioning streetlights
Nizampet: Residents of Ashok Residency in Kakatiya Hills, Pragati Nagar, Nizampet are living in fear due to a surge in thefts linked to the absence of streetlights for the past 15 days. In the latest incident, a frustrated thief made off with a gas cylinder after failing to find valuables in a residence.
The residents are worried about their safety and have asked their community members to stay alert. According to an anonymous resident who spoke to the Hyderabad Mail, “Last night, two thieves stole a gas cylinder from our building. The incident was captured on CCTV, and we have shared the video clips to help identify the culprits. The absence of street lighting is making it easier for thieves to carry out such activities.”
The ongoing issue with streetlights, which have been out of order for over 15 days, has led to increased criminal activity. Residents are worried about the safety of children playing in the area and are calling for urgent action to restore proper lighting. They have requested authorities to address this issue promptly.
Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Sai Teja, a social activist and resident of Pragathi Nagar, highlighted the problems with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) ‘s outsourced maintenance and installation of streetlights. Sai Teja said, “The EESL contract was meant to address dark spots and improve safety, but it seems to have worsened the problem due to faulty conductors and other issues.”
Sai Teja highlighted the correlation between lack of illumination and crime rates. “According to the State Crime Record Bureau and the National Crime Record Bureau, one in ten crimes occurs due to poor lighting. Following the Disha incident in November 2019, an analysis revealed that inadequate lighting is a significant contributing factor to many crimes.”
Sai Teja called for immediate action from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, urging him to ensure that EESL addresses the streetlight issues promptly. He also suggested imposing penalties on EESL contractors to encourage them to rectify the situation swiftly and prevent further thefts and crimes.
The residents of Ashok Residency await a prompt response from the authorities to ensure their safety and restore proper street lighting in their area.
