High mast installation hangs in balance!

TALL CLAIMS made by State Government to illuminate the entire city as well the Ardha Kumbh mela area seem to be on paper only while about 50 days are lefts for the commencement of Ardh Kumbh Mela-2007.

TALL CLAIMS made by State Government to illuminate the entire city as well the Ardha Kumbh mela area seem to be on paper only while about 50 days are lefts for the commencement of Ardh Kumbh Mela-2007.

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It may be mentioned that the administration had decided to install 65 high masts at cost of Rs 3.50 crore in view of the Ardh Kumbh Mela. However this seem to be in jeopardy following differences between a minister and the officials of the department concerned.

Earlier this work was supposed to be carried out jointly by Nagar Nigam, Allahabad Development Authority and DUDA but later it was handed over to the UPPCL which invited tenders.

Reputed companies like Philips, Crompton, Bajaj and Surya applied for it. Being the lowest rate, Surya's tender was approved but the State Housing and Urban Development Minister, Azam Khan during his review of mela work on October 10 reportedly took strong exception to it and ordered the officials to allot the work either to Philips or to Havells. As result the entire plan of installation of high masts seems to have been derailed. However the Ardh Kumbh Mela Adhikari Pragyan Ram Mishra said he had ample time to install the high masts.

Meanwhile the Nagar Nigam's work for installation of streetlight especially on main routes seems to be going on at a snail's pace.