RTI exposes Himachal govt's claim on 100% electrification

By: Lawan Thakur

Mandi (Nov 14): While Himachal Pradesh government may have been boasting about 100% electrification in the state for a long time, but the fact is that the power state has still thousands of hoses yet to see light from an electric bulb. Information sought under the RTI Act has revealed that darkness still veils the Siraj area represented by rural development and panchayati raj minister Jairam. Around 12 dozen families in Ballichowki are still using oil lamps to light up their lives.

Acceding to electricity department’s Kullu office, 34 families in Khalbahan panchayat, and nine families in Devdar panchayat are yet to get power from state board. And it is not so that people have not made their woes known to the government, but every time they got nothing but disappointment. Information sought under the RTI Act by president of Kamgar Mazdoor Sangh and member of State RTI Bureau member Sant Ram has exposed the state government and the electricity department’s claims, highlighting how the power revolution eludes certain parts of the state. For example, under the large division of electricity department itself there are at least 59 families without power connections.

Sant Ram claims that while several representations have been made to the government, no one has ever cared to take up the matter. “Jairam is representing the area for the third consecutive time, this time as a minister, but he is yet to feel the darkness in his constituency,” he added. On being asked about the situation, Jairam admitting that there are houses not having power connections, said efforts were being made to electrify the area under the Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme.