A dispute erupted on Tuesday night in Gulawathi town of Bulandshahr over the installation of an electricity pole in front of a plaque dedicated to Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The power department team was setting up poles for a new feeder near the vegetable market when the issue surfaced.
Some locals objected to the placement, following which members of the Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar Committee also arrived at the spot. As tensions rose, the electricity department informed its senior officials and the police were called in to prevent the situation from escalating.
After a brief standoff, the matter was defused by shifting the pole to the side instead of placing it directly in front of the plaque.
Explaining the situation, SDO (Electricity) Yashpal Singh said the cold storage feeder was under excessive load and was being split into two to improve supply for consumers, which necessitated the installation of new poles. He added that the locations had been discussed with shopkeepers in advance and that there is a drain next to the plaque, due to which the team wanted to slightly reposition the pole to avoid it. The new poles will carry an 11,000-volt cable.
However, the move has also affected several cart vendors, as the installation of the new poles has led to the loss of their vending spots.
