Long wait for power for tribal hamlets in Thiruvananthapuram
The decade-long wait for electricity by the inhabitants of two tribal colonies in the district continues allegedly owing to the indifferent attitude of the authorities.
Despite promises by the officials concerned to light up Valiyakilikodu and Kuttappara tribal hamlets in Peppara where about 40 tribal families live, no concrete efforts were being
taken to electrify these hamlets, the residents alleged.
“We are living in the dark despite the fact that the colony is located about 47 km from the capital city. The worst sufferers are our children. Electric lights would definitely improve their studies,” said Anilkumar, a daily wage earner hailing from Kuttappara.
He also said electric lights will reduce the rampant wild animal attacks in the area.
“Elephant attacks are common here and we cannot even venture out of our houses when the crops are being destroyed,” he added.
According to sources, the ITDP grant of Rs 17.88 lakh to electrify Valiyakilikodu and Kuttappara tribal hamlets in Peppara is poised to lapse, thanks to the inordinate delay for a sanction from the State Forest Department for drawing of electric lines through the forest.
While Valiyakilikodu has 30 Kani families, Kuttappara is inhabited by 12 families of the same tribe.
Both the hamlets are located around 4 km from the Peppara dam where the KSEB generates 3 MW a day.
Peppara ward councillor M Santha said the ITDP funds for electrification of the colonies had lapsed twice earlier.
“This time too we fear it would repeat as the Forest Department is yet to take a decision on the KSEB estimate submitted in May this year,” she said. “The KSEB said the forest land required for drawing the lines is 5.5 ares while the Forest Department puts it at 5.12 ares. The issue could have been resolved much earlier through a joint inspection,” Santha says.
Peppara Range Officer Satheesh said the request was forwarded to the District Forest Office in May itself.
“The allegation that the Range Office is delaying the project is baseless,” he said.
However, he said he was ignorant on what happened to the request later.