Power supply wire network spread across tree branches
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, April 4: Netrabera, an interior village far removed from Jadugoda situated in the forest block of Musabani, has been electrified after persistent demands for power supply by the villagers. They have received power supply under the Deendayal Rural Electrification Scheme. The blessing of the scheme, however, may soon turn out to be curse unless the authorities that be take positive steps to remove the electric supply wires drawn across the branches of trees without fixing poles for the purpose. The setting dusk sun may see the glow of electric lights in Netrabera village but the villagers are aware that death lurks among the trees.
The villagers, sensing the looming threat to life and property have started raising their voices and are pointing accusing fingers at the contractor who executed the job haphazardly to make a fast buck or more. Netrabera villagers Budhan Singh Banra, Dewar Hembram and Prema Banra voiced the concern of others including those in and around Netrabera. There was concern and subdued anger in their voice when they said, “It was a long haul running from pillar to post in government offices, authorities and reams of applications that we got power connections about 18 months back. The initial joy of seeing electricity in our homes gave way to concern as the irresponsible ways of the contractor who was given the job of providing power connections to us that was sanctioned under the Deendayal rural Electrification Scheme did he rash job. Instead of fixing poles to carry power lines for connections, he had the wires spread along the branches of trees. People have received electric jolts during monsoons and to add to our woes, even a slight breeze leads to power cuts that entail pleading to the power department for ‘spit and paste’ resumption of power supply.”
The villagers of Netrabera suspect large scale anomalies by contractors assigned the job of electrification in these villages. They have met the Executive Engineer of JBVNL in Ghatshila and SDO Jadugoda and demanded an enquiry into the execution of the electrification job by the contractor concerned and action against him. The JBVNL SDO Prashant Raj has admitted that the contractor was at fault and said that action would be taken against him.
Mosabani Forest ranger PK Goswami started that the contractor had not taken any permission from the Forest Department. “He (the contractor) without taking our permission has committed a grave mistake. The responsibility of taking action against the erring contractor is on the JVBNL authorities,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Netrabera villagers remain wide eyed awaiting some concrete and impartial decision so that the lights glow brightly as do their lives.
