Living in the dark: Electricity still eludes this Odisha village

Nuapada: When the government is making tall claims to provide power to each and every household of the state, electricity still eludes residents of Saragipatel village of Nuapada district.

According to sources, three years have elapsed since the poles were installed in the village, but no electricity connection has been provided by the administration yet.

“In 2015 they installed the poles in the village, provided us with electric meters, wires and other equipment, but the power supply is yet to be provided. After repeated pleas, the authorities are yet to take any steps in the last three years”, said a villager.

“We are facing a lot of problems due to lack of power. Kerosene lamps are the only source of light for us during night and children are forced to study under the lamps,” rued another villager.

Even if the Komna sub-station is just 500 metres away from the village, the administration is showing no inclination towards providing electricity connection, added sources.

On the other hand officials of WESCO, Nuapada informed that electricity to the households will be provided as early as possible.

“Some of the villages were left out after poles were installed. The contractors and NTPC have been instructed to expedite the work and supply electricity to the households as early as possible,” executive engineer of WESCO Nuapada, Anupam Sailabhadra Das said.