Baripada: Even as the Centre claims spectacular progress on rural electrification front in the country, scores of villages and hamlets in tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district have been deprived of power.
According to a report, there are 3,845 hamlets in 121 villages in the district. The energy department has set a target to complete electrification under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Bidyutkaran Yojana in 3,673 hamlets by the end of February.
Most of the villages are in hilly areas and people in most of them have not seen electrical lights. For example, Besarpani in Kendua panchayat under Shyamakhunta block where 60 families, belonging to Santhal and Lodha communities, live.
Utility poles have been put up and a transformer has been installed, but electricity has not been supplied. People who have been used to live without electricity light oil lamps in the night.
Anadu Majhi, a villager, said, “We have taken up the issue with the people’s representatives several times in the past, but nothing has been done. Now, we have left it to our fate.”
Srihari Marandi, another villager, lamented, “Our village is at the foothills of Similipal. Wild animals often stray into the village under the cover of darkness. We are squeezed between the darkness and wild animals. At night, we never muster courage to venture out. Leaders and officials assure us the work will be done, but nothing happens,”
“All fear darkness. Still we have become accustomed to living in it. When elections come, all kinds of promises are made which remain unrealised for years. If they live in the village for a day, then only they will know the real problem. Due to lack of lighting facility, our kids are unable to study. Poles and transformer were set up, but there is no power supply,” said Sakra Marandi.
Sarpanch Sukuram Singh exuded hope that the village will be soon electrified. “I have been approaching officials for it. The department says it will take a month or two for electrification.”
PNN