Due to the difficult terrain, reaching these areas is extremely challenging under the threat of Nasalit. The official statement said that power supply through the grid is not less than that of these villages.
These villages can use solar energy to light up light bulbs, but face maintenance issues. In many villages, solar panels have been stolen, forcing children to learn under kerosene lamps, officials said.
Celebrations broke out in the villages – Katuljhora, Kattapar, Bodra, Bukmarka, Sambalpur, Gattegahan, Pugda, Amakodo, Petemeta, Tatekasa, Kundalkal, Raimanhora, Nainguda, Metatodke, Kohkatola, Edasmeta and Kunjakanhar – after they were connected to the power grid recently, it said.
It says: “In some villages, the children dance, while in others, the elderly burst into cookies to express their happiness because this is the moment they have been in decades.”
So far, 275 of the 540 households in these 17 villages have been connected to electricity. One official said work to provide power to the rest of the homes is underway. Under this project, Tatekasa installed a 25 kVA transformer. For this purpose, a 45-kilometer-long 11 kV line, 87 low-voltage rods and 17 transformers have been installed. He said it was challenging to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Forests and transport its equipment with 11 kV line to these remote villages, adding that the dedicated efforts of the technical team made the completion of the project possible.
“The government’s priority is to ensure the development of basic facilities in highly sensitive areas. Electricity will be provided to other villages in the area soon,” he said.
The Manpur-Mohla-Bambagarh Chowki district is located about 150 kilometers from the capital Raipur, sharing its borders with the Naxal-Hit Bastar region of the state and the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
