Siliguri, 18th February: Residents of Sharad Chandra Pally in Siliguri Municipal Corporation’s Ward No. 40 staged a strong protest against the installation of high-tension electric poles, creating a tense situation in the area. Ultimately, work was halted due to pressure from local residents.
According to sources, underground cabling work is ongoing across the city. As part of this project, new electric poles for high-tension lines were being installed on the roads of Ward 40. Residents alleged that several poles were erected right in front of house gates, which sparked strong objections.
Locals questioned why high-tension poles were being installed in their area when other parts of the city are being wired underground. They expressed concerns about potential future accidents and claimed that some protesters faced threats. The issue was reportedly brought to the local councillor, but residents said they did not receive satisfactory answers.
Deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar said he was unaware of the issue but assured that a meeting with the councillor and residents would be held soon. Discussions with the electricity department will also take place, and appropriate action will be taken if the project is causing inconvenience to the public.