Post News Network
Daringbadi, Dec 27: A solar power project set up in remote Burangia village under this block in Kandhamal district has been lying defunct for the last seven months after its control panels developed snags.
The village located about 40 km from the block headquarters presents a picture of abysmal neglect and administrative apathy as its 260 families continue to reel under darkness. Students are the worst sufferers as they stop studying as evening descends while people choose to remain indoors till the next daybreak.
The village does not have a good road to connect with as construction of road under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has remained halfway while construction of a bridge has started across river Khadag. In the absence of a bridge people risk their lives to connect with the other side of the river by walking on loosely hanging wires.
The solar power project came up in the village after the authorities found it difficult to put up utility poles and draw electricity wires for power supply.
The project was installed at an outlay of Rs 20 lakh sanctioned under the Integrated Action Plan. The work started in 2014. However, the consultancy agency left the project after making power supply available to 40 households in March 2015 with no concern for the remaining households. Two months later, the project became defunct.
Sarpanch Balakrushna Mallik alleged the company officials have collected Rs 250 per household for power supply. Some residents also alleged that the company has received its full payment for the project.
Mardraj Singh, a resident, said use of substandard machines led to the technical snags. He said the administration should supply power through 11-kv transmission lines instead of the solar power.
A 12-member committee which was formed to oversee the functioning of the project has also expressed its helplessness in the absence of the consultancy agency.
A lineman Arjun Pradhan in charge of the project said it became defunct as a result of fire in machine room due to excessive load.
Rejecting the charge of making full payment to the company, BDO Sunakar Sharma said he has asked the agency to make the project functional. PNN
