Nuapada: Electric power is still a distant dream for residents of 52 villages in Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in this district.
The villagers have to grope in the dark after nightfall. Though the power supply hope was ignited by the then collector V Jaykumar some time ago, it has not gone beyond erection of utility poles.
Sources said the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at a height of 3,000 ft above sea level and is at a distance of 70 km from the district headquarters of Nuapada. The villages have a population of over 5,000, comprising mostly Bhunjia, Paharia and Gond tribes.
The sanctuary, bordering Chhattisgarh, is spread over 600 sq km. The villagers find themselves caught between the devil and the deep sea as they live in the midst of tigers and other wild animals and the constant crossfire between Maoists and police.
After a day’s hard work, they keep themselves confined to the four walls of their homes, said one of the tribals in a choked voice while speaking to this correspondent.
The castor oil lamp is their only hope at night after the sun sets. Very few of them have managed to install a solar panel and battery at their homes. They are lucky enough to watch TV. The rest of the residents are so poor that they find it difficult to arrange two square meals a day.
The then collector Jaykumar had decided to supply power to these villages for which utility poles were erected and power lines had been laid till Sunabeda from where power was supposed to be distributed to all the villages. That was three years ago. However, work stopped after Jaykumar was transferred.
It is claimed that the project was stopped as the forest department had declined to give clearance for the work. Later, collector Md. Sadik Alam conducted a DGPS survey and informed the state government about the forest clearance. However, the files are yet to receive the approval and clearance for the project.
A senior official of power distribution company Wesco said a firm, Bijay Electricals, has received the contract and soon power supply will be given to the villages. PNN
