VISAKHAPATNAM: Power department officials trekked nearly seven kilometres to Dabbalapadu, a remote hilltop village under Rompalle panchayat in Ananthagiri mandal of ASR district on Thursday, after residents raised concerns over the lack of electricity supply through the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL’s) maiden ‘Call Your CMD’ programme.
Dabbalapadu, situated atop a hill, is home to eight tribal families. Villagers said the absence of electricity has made daily life challenging, particularly at night.
They stated that movement of animals in the surrounding forest area has added to their safety concerns.
In 2023, a few families reportedly moved out of the village due to these difficulties, while others stayed back as they had no alternative.
Following a phone call made to the APEPDCL Chairperson and Managing Director Prudhvi Tej Immadi, highlighting the issue, officials from the electricity department visited the habitation on Thursday.
Ananthagiri Assistant Engineer, along with Line Inspector K Srinivasa Rao and Lineman M Tirupati Rao, undertook the uphill trek to assess the situation on the ground and interact with residents.
The officials inspected the village and examined the existing solar power facility that had been set up earlier.
They informed the villagers that a detailed report would be submitted to higher authorities at the district level regarding the feasibility of providing electricity supply to the settlement.
The villagers expressed confidence that electrification of the village would become a reality soon. Villagers including Kosuru Appalaswamy, Kosuru Appanna Dora and CPI(M) district executive member K Govinda Rao, accompanied the officials during the trek.
On February 9, APEPDCL introduced the ‘Call Your CMD’ initiative to enable members of the public to directly communicate their grievances to the Chairman and Managing Director over the phone.
Company’s CMD Prudhvi Tej Immadi conducted the first programme at APEPDCL’s corporate office. As many as 48 consumers brought their electricity problems to the attention of the CMD. Officials said it is intended to ensure quicker response to issues raised by consumers.