14 years of waiting, still no electricity

The Statesman, Jan 3, 2008

Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Jan. 2: The electrification of villages inhabited by the displaced people of the Indravati project is yet to be undertaken even after 14 years of the sanctioning of funds.
According to official reports in 1994-95 the Indravati Project authorities sanctioned Rs 56 lakhs for the electrification of 13 villages in Kalahandi district and Rs 50 lakhs for electrification of 36 villages of Nawarangpur and Koraput districts to Wesco. The utilisation certificate stating completion of the work has reportedly been submitted by Wesco, however, not a single village has been electrified till date, sources said.
In response to the allegations of the affected villagers, the state government appointed a high level committee comprising the collectors of Kalahandi and Nawarangpur, general manager of the Orissa Hydropower Corporation and the section engineer of Wesco, to conduct an on the spot enquiry to test the veracity of the allegations. Accordingly the verification was completed last week, sources said.
According to report out of the 13 villages in Kalahandi, electric poles were erected in only four villages and not a village was found to be electrified by the committee.
“As far as the Kalahandi areas are concerned the allegations have been found to be true by the investigating team. Further enquiry is being conducted in this matter,” said the Kalahandi collector who was part of the enquiry committee.