Phulbani: Darkness rules hundreds of villages in Kandhamal district once the daylight fades as electricity still eludes remote, hilly and forested pockets, forcing the residents to stay indoors when fear of wild animals and other hazards looms large.
Essential activities like mobile connectivity and online services come to a grinding halt, thanks to lack of electricity. Of the 2,599 villages across 171 gram panchayats in the district, as many as 342 villages remain unelectrified. Lack of enough power grids in the district is stated to be the reason behind the lack of power connection. Moreover, the Centre’s ambitious PM Surya Ghar Yojana has faltered in the district, with only 12 beneficiaries getting power supply under the scheme. The progress of the scheme is quite disappointing in comparison with the demand for power supply in the district.
The problem is severe in Baliguda, Kotagarh, Tumudibandha and Daringbadi blocks. Currently, Kandhamal has two 132-KV power grids – Phulbani and G Udayagiri. A 220-KV grid constructed at Sirtiguda near Daringbadi six years ago at a cost of about Rs 100 crore remains non-functional due to pending Forest clearance for tower construction. Once operational, it is expected to address the local power crunch.
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However, the delay has left the villagers high and dry. District officials said plans are underway to extend electricity to all unelectrified villages. A detailed project report (DPR) of Rs 30 crore has already been submitted to the state government. “If the proposal is approved, the electrification work will begin soon,” said district chief development officer Shambhunath Nandi. According to officials, about 1.67 lakh households under Phulbani division have been electrified.
However, many areas continue to face low-voltage problems due to inadequate supply. Officials noted that setting up of new grids is necessary to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the progress of the Union government’s ambitious rooftop solar project in Kandhamal district remains sluggish. According to Energy Department sources, only 12 households across the district have joined the scheme so far, against a target of 10,000 for the division. Officials said villagers are reluctant to apply for solar power because they already receive free or subsidised electricity under existing government schemes, making even heavily subsidised solar power less attractive. When contacted, executive engineer of Phulbani division Manas Ranjan Maharana said the Energy department has set a target to achieve 100 per cent electrification in the district by next year.
