Phiringia: Tall claims by the Centre of providing electricity to every village in the country have become eyewash in many tribal-dominated villages of Kandhamal district.
Even as electric poles are standing tall in the village for past 10 years, the villagers are yet to see lighting. Till date, they have to depend on oil and kerosene lamps as a medium of light, 71 years after Independence.
A case in point is Gobarnala village under Phiringia block. 10 years back, the villagers were informed that their village would be illuminated under the Biju Grama Jyoti Yojana.
Instead of employing labourers, a contractor lured the villagers into carrying electric poles and planting them in the villages. He bungled all the money that was supposed to be given for the labourers but made the villagers work free on the promise of electricity.
Instead, he demanded money from the locals ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3000 on the pretext of supply of electricity.
Believing him, the villagers left their farm works and carried huge electric poles on their shoulders and planted them in their villages. 10 years have passed, but the electric poles are of no use with no electricity supply to them.
“We were very happy that our villages were going to get electricity after ages. So, we did not bother about the money from the contractor. He made us do all the work for free and bungled all the money. 10 years have passed, but there is no electricity supply,” complained a local.
“It is not saddening that we did not get our dues for doing the work, but we are sad because till now we are deprived of electricity,” said another local.
They demanded the administration take notice of their plight and provide electricity.
