The festival of lights is gone but the civic body wants to keep the streets of the city illuminated throughout the year.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has requested the district administration to help it in the handover process of all 56 high mast lights in the capital to ensure their maintenance on a regular basis.

Sources said the PMC had fixed 22 high mast lights, particularly near the Ganga ghats for Chhath, and a system was being developed to ensure that those work without glitches.

“At present, initial planning is on lighting and solid waste management system. Pockets of the city remain dark after sunset owing to non-functioning high mast lights and streetlights. Even upscale localities such as Patliputra Colony suffer the same plight. Of the total 56 high mast lights across the city, barely one or two work. During Chhath, the PMC mended 23 of these lights, mostly near the ghats. The PMC is trying to develop a system that ensures all high mast lights remain functional,” a PMC official told The Telegraph.

The official added that no agency was responsible for the proper maintenance of high mast lights.

“The PMC is seeking details about each of them. The high mast lights at Ashok Rajpath and Kargil Chowk were among those repaired. Private agencies installed some such lights, while some were bought with MLA local area development funds over the years. Many private agencies given the task of setting up these lights have not handed over the same back to PMC after installation. The civic body is assessing the situation, trying to identify the agencies involved and seeking help from the district administration in the matter. Only after the civic body gets back possession of the mast lights can those be maintained properly,” added the official.

Officials of the district administration said the required help would be provided to the PMC.

“There are many defunct high mast lights for the maintenance of which PMC is responsible. Private companies, which set those up, are yet to hand them back to the PMC. Hence, the civic body is clueless about their status. It should have records for the same and the administration too is ready to help it out in the matter,” said a district administration official.

Civic body officials pointed out that electricians and engineers would be appointed for maintenance of high mast lights.

“Some mast lights may still be under the warranty period and the agencies setting those up must be held responsible for their maintenance. The civic body would identify the problems in each defunct mast light and take action accordingly. Once the civic body gets possession of those lights, engineers and electricians would be appointed to ensure that they work throughout the year,” said another civic body official.