RTI activist alleges irregularities in installation of solar lights in Amritsar city

Fancy and solar lights installed by Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) at various locations in the city are being questioned as the contractors installed less number of lights and the authorities allegedly paid more to the contractors than the market price. A local RTI activist Suresh Kumar Sharma procured details from the AIT under the Right to Information Act and alleged a major scam. Sharma wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann saying that an investigation should be conducted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau so that action can be taken against officials who are guilty.

Addressing a press conference here, RTI activist Suresh Kumar Sharma alleged that there was a major scam in connivance with the AIT officials and contractors in various projects for installing fancy and solar lights in the year 2021-22. Sharma has received documents through RTI and claimed that in the year 2021-22, a private firm was allotted a contract to install equipment and solar lights in Mudhal village. The firm installed only 216 solar lights but the AIT paid the contractor for 286 solar lights. The AIT paid Rs 42,179 per solar light, pole and bracket installed at Mudhal village but during physical verification, it was found that the solar light costs Rs 20,000 in the market, alleged Sharma. The AIT allotted a tender for Rs 4.27 crore for installation of fancy lights in New Amritsar and Ranjit Avenue in the year 2021-22.

The contractor installed 113 lights and got payment for 119 lights in Ranjit Avenue. Similarly, the authorities paid for 109 lights and the contractors installed 103 lights in New Amritsar. The AIT paid Rs 1,76,580 for one fancy light which costs Rs 1 lakh in the market, claimed Sharma. Suresh Kumar Sharma said that in 2021-22, the work on installing white umbrella solar lights near Gurdwara in Vallah was approved by the AIT but these lights have not been installed. Sharma said that a Rs 10 lakh work was allotted to a private contractor for the annual maintenance of street lights in Kabir Park in the year 2021-22. The AIT cleared the bills for 2,360 bulbs of 90 watts, 1,320 bulbs of 60 watts and 48 high mast lights in Kabir Park which is also being questioned.

Sharma has written to the higher authorities asking for an inquiry in the case.