Villages around Lavasa continue to grapple in darkness for power

Even as the Lavasa Lake City project has been provided with adequate power supply by the Maharashtra State Electricity Development Corporation Ltd (MSEDCL), there is no ray of hope for the seven villages around the project which have been crying out for power for the past 15 years.

Located in the Mose Valley, 65 km from Pune, the plight of these villages was first highlighted by DNA in January (‘Lavasa at night reveals two faces of development’).

The report stated that while these seven villages — 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, Baramati MP Supriya Sule told DNA on Monday that she was pursuing the issue closely with the MSEDCL.

 “They have bought time from me. It does not matter whether they have approached the revenue department or not. As per the central government’s guidelines, these villages must get power,” she said.

MSEDCL’s Mumbai-based managing director, Ajoy Mehta, declined to comment stating that the state legislative 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 Rs3.42 crore. 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-villager Prakash More of Dasve-Ramnagar 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 in 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.