A deputation, comprising Left Front councillors, and led by Rupa Bagchi pointed out that Rs 27 crore was spent for installing 540 such decorative lights "without following proper norms" like not inviting tenders.
Mayor Sovan Chatterjee admitted there were some "administrative difficulties" in the process and recommended a departmental inquiry.
At the same time, he took a dig at the Left parties, saying "they were always opposed to beautification of the city".
The mayor pointed out that the 540 lights were set up in the first phase and from the second phase the trident lights were being manufactured at KMC workshop at a much lower cost.