Purushottampur NAC’s streetlight project stalled due to a dispute.
Purusottampur: A project to expand street lighting in the Purusottampur NAC (Notified Area Council) has run into controversy. A local resident has withheld 10 poles—part of a government-funded lighting scheme—due to an unresolved payment dispute with a private contractor.
According to sources, the NAC had received 263 street light poles under the ‘Greenfield’ scheme to improve the town’s lighting infrastructure. While 253 poles have already been installed, the installation of the remaining 10 is currently stalled.
A resident named Pratap Chandra Panda claims that a private agency involved in the project had assured him of contracts for the installation and maintenance of street lights across several Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Ganjam district.
Relying on this assurance, he spent approximately ₹80,000 on electrical materials and supplies. However, Panda alleges that the agency neither awarded him the work nor reimbursed the money he had spent.
He claims to have retained the 10 street light poles until the outstanding amount is paid. He has warned that if payment is not made, he will sell the poles to recover his losses.
Purusottampur NAC Chairman Krishna Chandra Panda stated that he was unaware of the matter.
Executive Officer Sangita Sethi said the issue would be investigated, and appropriate action would be taken if any irregularities were found.
