Siliguri, June 20: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has chalked out a Rs 2-crore project to erect electricity poles, install timers on them to stop wastage of power and repair a crematorium here in the next one year.

Under the project, the SMC’s power department will set up 950 poles and install 500 timers in different wards.

“Eighty per cent work will be done in the added areas,” said Dilip Roy, member, mayor-in-council (electricity).

The added areas comprise Wards 31 to 44 in Jalpaiguri district and Ward 45 to 47 in Darjeeling district.

“Our aim is to install the streetlights within the 2008-09 financial year,” Roy said.

The SMC will spend Rs 91.22 lakh and Rs 45 lakh for erecting poles and installation of timers, respectively. “Work for setting up of 400 poles has already begun in different wards,” said Roy.

The SMC will also spend Rs 37.50 lakh to install new streetlights and replace the existing faulty ones.

On the setting up of timers, Roy said the device would stop the wastage of electricity during the day. “Once we fit the timers, the streetlights will be operated automatically and its functioning will be monitored by the five borough offices.” Each borough office will be given 100 timers, he added.

Currently, the streetlights in most of the wards are operated manually by SMC employees. Because of this, lights are often kept on even during the day. “After installing the timers, the wastage of power will come down,” the member said.

The SMC has also chalked out a plan to repair one of the two electric crematoriums at Siliguri Mahananda Ghat by spending Rs 15 lakh.