Daringbadi/Brahmanigaon: Amid claims by the Union Government that it has electrified all the villages in the country, the inhabitants of Hatimunda panchayat under Brahmanigaon police limits in Kandhamal district held a road blockade Tuesday to press their demand for electricity supply to their homes and streets.
Being deprived of electricity for years, angry villagers cut down trees on the main road and staged a road blockade. Hundreds of locals of four wards under the panchayat felled huge trees on the main road and staged a demonstration. The protest comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India fully electrified.
Citing their sad plight even after 71 years of Independence, the women and children of the area braved the bad weather and rain to stage the protest on the road. Vehicular traffic came to a standstill – to Berhampur, Mohana, Adaba and Paniganda. Tension ran high as no police or administration official reached the spot to pacify the crowd of protesters.
The locals said they were saddened by the government apathy. On several occasions, they had submitted memoranda to the district administration, the chief minister, the governor etc to press the demand for electricity supply to their villages. However, their pleas were left unheard.
While the central government is making tall claims that all the villages were electrified by April 29, the villagers here are living in darkness at night. Lanterns and oil lamps are their only source of light. “Our agitation will continue until all the villages in the panchayat are supplied with electricity,” the agitators said.
