Maharashtra sanctions Power to 11 Lavasa villages

Nine months after the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) first conducted a survey for electrification of seven villages around the Lavasa Lake City, the state government has finally sanctioned Rs3.88 crore to electrify the villages.

An additional four villages have also been included in the electrification list. This follows the persistent follow-up by the DNA over the last six months.

DNA had, in its January 16 edition (‘Lavasa at night reveals two faces of development’), highlighted the plight of  the hapless villagers who have been crying out for electricity for the past 15 years.

The DNA report had stated that while the seven villages (Dasve-Ramnagar, Bhoini, Mugaon, Koloshi, Gadle, Dhamanhol and Sakri)  had never experienced power supply, MSEDCL had provided power to the Lavasa township as a high tension (HT) line customer between January 2008 and August 2010.

After this, it was being serviced by a private firm.

The January report was followed by three follow-up reports asking the Baramati MP, Supriya Sule, about the progress being made in the case. Sule told DNA that she was in turn following the issue with the government and the MSEDCL managing director, Ajoy Mehta.

On July 4, Sule, in a press statement, said the state government had sanctioned Rs3.88 crore for electrification of the villages.

This was also confirmed by MSEDCL’s chief engineer (Pune Zone), SP Nagtilak, while speaking to DNA on Tuesday. He said that the MSEDCL had also issued a tender notice in the local newspapers in the first week of July to appoint contractors. “We have set a time frame of six months to complete the electrification process,” he said.

However, Nagtilak cautioned that the project could take two-three months more. “The terrain is hilly and unapproachable in parts. We can access some villages on foot only, hence we will need to provide for an additional two-three months.”

Speaking to DNA on Tuesday, Sule said, “I am happy that the state government has sanctioned Rs3.88 crore for the project. The MSEDCL has been extremely cooperative in the matter. I am a patient person and would not like to rush the MSEDCL. It is a technical matter and we do not want B-grade work from them.”

Activist-villager Prakash More of Dasve village told DNA on Tuesday he was happy that the funds had been finally sanctioned and hoped that the project would be implemented by the MSEDCL at the earliest. “It is sad that we have had no electricity in our villages since the country got independence in 1947. The sooner we get electricity the better,” More said.