OKARA, May 3: Almost 80 per cent street lights in the main localities of the district have been out of order for quite sometime due to negligence of the tehsil council authorities.

Dawn learnt on Friday that the Central Benazir Avenue, Sahiwal Road, Church Road and Tehsil Road were without lighting.

These roads have become a permanent abode of filth as sanitary staff pay little heed to it. Heaps of filth can be seen in every corner of the roads.

Constructed a couple of years back, the three kilometre-long Benazir Avenue has become a picture of neglect. There is no lighting on the avenue. Switch boxes are without covers which can be dangerous to pedestrians.

The underground wires of street lights are lying naked while footpath along the road is broken on several points.

The two kilometre-long iron fence along the avenue has been stolen by addicts.

Encroachment has become a usual sight in many parts of the district. Hundreds of motorcycle rickshaws can be seen crowding chowks, leaving little room for motorists. People have urged the traffic police to take stock of the situation without delay.