Despite strict instructions given by authorities and a momentum built up during Diwali, Chinese lights have made a strong comeback to illuminate the Capital city for Jharkhand’s 16th Statehood day. Most of the Government buildings, residences of who’s who, gates made for the occasion and other establishments throughout Ranchi are being decorated with the exotic lightings, a disappointment for the anti-Chinese crusaders.
Most of the contactors given work to put up lights for the three-day celebration starting Sunday for the Foundation Day have showing unavailability of the homemade items gone for the cheaper imported items instead of country-made lights.
“It’s not so easy for us to arrange for made in India lights. We are left with no other option but to put Chinese lights in the buildings as Indian lights are not easily available in the market,” said a contractor who has been given the responsibility of decorating some of the government buildings in the State Capital.
The Government officials also admitted that finding Indian lights in the market in large quantity itself was a herculean task. “We have strictly directed the contractors to use only Indian lights for the occasion but it is not available in the market. Still we are ensuring that more than 90 per cent of them are Indian made,” said a senior official in the Energy Department requesting anonymity. The contractors have also assured that they will be using only Indian lights for the decoration purposes, he added.
Engineers of Energy department also claimed that only Indian lights have to be used for decorative purposes. “Although, contractors have been strictly asked to use only Indian lights, there might be some anomaly due to unavailability of Indian lights in the market,” revealed the Engineer.
He however, said that they have been given direct instructions to use only Indian lights for the occasion. “Today we will make a visit to different sites and try to get them replaced with the Indian ones if found anywhere,” the Engineer said.
Another contractor on the other hand, claimed that they have been using only hand- made lED lights for decorating government buildings but was not aware where those lED lights were coming from.
“As Chinese lights have very bad quality wires fitted with them, we prepare decorative lights of our own by soldering lED lights with local wires, but make of those lights are not mentioned on them,” said another Contractor. The Government must ensure that Chinese lights do not reach Indian markets, he added.
He said that most of the lEDs have been brought from Delhi and Kolkata where they get them comparatively on cheaper rates.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made several appeals to the people to make more and more use of Indian products so that economy of the country can boost up.
A silent campaign was also being carried out on the social media like Facebook, Twitter and WhattsApp urging people to use Indian products and shun Chinese products.