No Streetlights for Three Months Spark Candlelight Protest in Rolugunta of Anakapalli
Residents say absence of streetlights has made the village unsafe after dark, with snakes, scorpions, and other insects roaming freely. Women, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable.
Visakhapatnam:Tribal villagers of Uduvalasa Gadavapalem in Rolugunta mandal of Anakapalli district have been moving in darkness for the past three months due to non-functional streetlights.
In protest, the Adivasi, who are members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Gadaba community, staged a candlelight protest on Sunday night, demanding immediate restoration of street lighting facilities in their hamlet, which comes under the jurisdiction of Kovvur gram panchayat.
Residents say absence of streetlights has made the village unsafe after dark, with snakes, scorpions, and other insects roaming freely. Women, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable.
One of the protesters, Neelapu Devudamma, explained that they had contacted the Electricity department and the lineman several times, only to be told that the power has not been restored as the panchayat has not cleared the pending bills. When they approached the panchayat secretary, he claimed that no demand in this regard had been raised in the last fortnight. The assistant engineer, when contacted, redirected responsibility to the lineman.
Protesters said such lack of coordination among officials has left the tribal families without streetlights, a basic safety measure in a vulnerable area. Community leaders said streetlights for them are a matter of survival.
CPM district executive member K. Govinda Rao, along with candlelight protesters, demanded that the mandal parishad development officer (MPDO) prioritise the issue. They called for an inquiry into why the streetlights have not been functioning for three months, insisting on accountability from the Panchayat and Electricity department officials. They requested authorities to review the pending electricity dues of the panchayat and resolve the issue.
If there is any negligence on part of anyone, action must be taken against those responsible, the villagers said.
The candlelight procession of women, including Ganta Lakshmi, underscored the frustration of the Gadaba community, which has endured unsafe nights for weeks.
