Nandapur: Andhra Pradesh is leaving no stone unturned to cash in on the civic problems and stake its claim in the villages bordering the neighbouring state in Koraput, a report said Sunday. The neighbouring state has been supplying power to Raipahad village under Nandapur block in Koraput district in the absence of power supply to the village by the district administration. This has helped the neighbouring state win the favour of the villagers in order to lure them to its side. After coming to know about this development, the block officials installed three solar-powered lights on the roads in Raipahad but that was not enough to dispel the darkness in the village. While the residents’ houses are lit up with power supplied by Andhra Pradesh, the village streets are being illuminated with the solar-powered lights provided by the Nandapur block authorities.
Reports said that the power distribution firm Tata Power South Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPSODL) is more to be blamed for the lack of power supply to the village than any other department of the government or the district administration. It is alleged that the distribution firm is neglecting in supplying power to the village despite repeated requests by the Nandapur block authorities and the district administration. The district administration and block authorities have written letters to the TPSODL authorities urging them to immediately connect the village with power supply but the later is learnt to be not paying any heed to the pleas.
Recently, a meeting was held at the block office which was also attended by the TPSODL representatives. In the meeting, the BDO asked the TPSODL representatives to connect the village with a power supply but to no avail.
Moreover, officials of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh recently met at a meeting held at Raipahad village over a border dispute. Attending the meeting, Koraput sub-collector Benudhar Sabar directed the TPSODL engineer Bikash Choudhury to immediately connect Raipahad village with a power supply.
However, the power distribution firm is yet to implement the order. The delay in power supply to the village has sparked resentment and anger among the villagers which if not addressed might lead to flare-up and boost Andhra Pradesh’s morale for further incursion into Odisha villages. When contacted, TPSODL engineer Bikash Choudhury said a plan outlay has been prepared and sent to the executive engineer for his approval through the assistant executive engineer of Sunabeda. The village will be connected to the power supply after receiving the approval and sanction of funds. Locals have demanded the state government and the district administration intervene and connect the village with power supply immediately
