Rourkela: Hundreds of electricity consumers of six panchayats of Lathikata and Gurundia blocks in Sundargarh district Monday gheraoed the Wesco office here protesting power outage for nearly three weeks.
More than 50,000 people of tribal-dominated regions have been deprived of electricity due to the problem. Though they have been frequenting Wesco’s Lathikata office, it has not yielded results so far, it was learnt. The protesters warned the affected people would hit the street if the energy department does not resolve the issue within three days.
People alleged that power connection to Lathikata, Ramjodi, Mundajor, Siudihi, Kucheita and Banki panchayats have been disconnected since May 16. The staff of superintending engineer’s office have been clarifying that they have so far failed to restore power connection due to a fault developed in the cables which have passed underneath the rail track.
On the other hand, the residents are having a harrowing time due to the movement of snakes and elephants in the area. People fail to sleep inside their house due to extreme humid condition.
“With such difficult condition, we are leading miserable lives,” said social worker Chandamani Sandil, Gurundia block ex- chairman Juakim Khes and Kucheita sarpanch Arjun Mundari.
They alleged the department officials often escape from the office when the consumers search for them to solve their problems related to wrong billing.
Power outage has not only affected the supply of drinking water, but this has affected the cultivation in several regions. This apart, herds of elephants, under the cover of darkness, are entering the villages and crushing the crops.
Expressing resentment, the protesters flayed the apathy of local MLA Subrata Tarai and the state government.
They submitted a memorandum to the officials on the occasion.
More than 50,000 people of six panchayats would hit the street if the power connection is not restored at the earliest, the agitators warned in their memorandum.
PNN
