Power corporation has been dragging its feet in providing electricity even after 15 yrs; MP Supriya Sule says she is pursuing the matter.
Even as the Lavasa lake city project has been provided with adequate power supply by the Maharashtra State Electricity Development Corporation Limited (MSEDCL), there’s no ray of hope for the seven villages around the project which have been crying out for power for the last 15 years.
Located in the Mose Valley, 65 kms from Pune, the plight of these villages was first highlighted by DNA in a January report, ‘Lavasa at night reveals two faces of development’.
The report highlighted that while these seven villages of Dasve-Ramnagar, Bhoini, Mugaon, Koloshi, Gadle, Dhamanhol and Sakri had never experienced power supply, the MSEDCL had provided power to Lavasa as a high tension (HT) line customer between January 2008 and August 2010. After this, it was serviced by a private firm.
When asked about the progress in the matter, Sule told DNA on Monday that she was pursuing the issue closely with the MSEDCL. “They (MSEDCL) have bought time from me. It does not matter whether they have approached the revenue department or not. As per Government of India guidelines, these villages must get power,” Sule said.
MSEDCL’s Mumbai-based managing director, Ajoy Mehta declined to comment stating that the state assembly was in session. The power utility’s chief engineer ( Pune Circle), SP Nagtilak was not forthcoming when contacted last week.
In January, MSEDCL officials told DNA that they had carried out a field survey of the seven villages and estimated that the electrification would cost Rs 3.42 crores. The officials said they submitted a report in January seeking budgetary approval from the government.
The MSEDCL Pune circle officials told DNA that they have referred the matter to the revenue department to ascertain whether the villages were inside or outside the Lavasa city limits.
Reacting angrily to this, activist-villagers like Prakash More of the Dasve Ramnagar village said, “It is ridiculous to refer the matter to the revenue department. It is a simple matter. We do not have electricity and the state government should give us power instead of dilly dallying.”
More told DNA on Monday that he was visiting the MSEDCL Pune circle office at Rasta peth every fortnight only to receive evasive replies. “The officials are not able to give any firm commitment about the electrification of our villages,” he said.
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