Should take measures to ensure lights in Aarey

A damaged bulb on a lamp post (right) a staffer shows damaged lights

Lights are being filched at the Aarey Milk Colony, leaving swathes of the area in darkness; and the result is extreme danger for the people in the area - not just from possible criminal activity but also human-animal conflict.

A report stated that Aarey Milk Colony authorities are repairing non-functional street lights on internal roads passing through forest patches, but some anti-social elements are stealing copper wires that supply power to the lamp posts and damaging the lights. Aarey Milk Colony, spread across 16 square kilometres, has 28 tribal hamlets, slum pockets and cattle farms, including a forest patch. It also has around 50,000 residents.

Strict action, through cameras or vigils, needs to be taken to pin down the culprits. We want to see signboards warning of consequences if infra is tampered with. One understands that such warnings may not be heeded, but they should be there for whatever it is worth. Locals can turn vigilantes - informing the cops if they see wrongdoing, however, this must be in total confidence, and in fairness. However, a good network of informants or tip-offs can be invaluable in nipping this in the bud.

This is not to put the onus on people, but those who do take the internal roads regularly must have a powerful flashlight or torch, if affordable and possible. This, though, cannot be a substitute for street lighting.

A permanent solution to the problem is vital, otherwise we will have a situation such as manholes or gutter covers that seem to be filched at times and then the authorities do not quite know what to do about it. We have had examples of people falling into manholes as covers were broken. Maybe, a technicality can fix this issue. All one knows is that bright light is a must and in an extreme scenario it can be the difference between life and death.