Phulbani, 25th Aug 2025: Even after 78 years of Independence, around 342 villages in Kandhamal district remain in complete darkness without electricity. The problem is most severe in remote and hilly forested areas, where evening descends into total darkness. People live in constant fear of wild animals. Due to lack of electricity, villagers also face difficulties in mobile connectivity and online services.
Kandhamal district has 2,519 villages across 171 panchayats, but electricity has not yet reached 342 villages. The situation is worst in the blocks of Chiliguda, Kotagarh, Tumudibandha, and Daringbadi. Although two 132 KV power grids are functional at Phulbani and G. Udayagiri, and another 220 KV grid near Daringbadi’s Sijiguda was built six years ago at a cost of ₹100 crore, it is still non-operational due to pending clearance from the Forest Department.
Meanwhile, the district administration has prepared a proposal of ₹30 crore to provide power connections to all unelectrified villages, and has already sent it to the State Government for approval. The Kandhamal District Collector, Shambhunath Nandi, stated that once the proposal is sanctioned, electrification work will begin.
Currently, under Phulbani division, about 1.67 lakh households are connected to the power grid. However, due to insufficient power supply, many areas face low-voltage problems, creating the need for new grids.
On the other hand, progress under the Central Government’s rooftop solar scheme in Kandhamal has been disappointing. According to the Electricity Department, only 12 households in the entire district have been covered under this scheme so far, against a target of 1,000. Officials explained that people are reluctant to adopt rooftop solar because they already get electricity at subsidized rates, and hence, do not wish to invest extra money despite the government subsidy.
Although awareness campaigns have been conducted, targets remain unmet. The Executive Engineer, Manas Ranjan Maharana, said that the department has set a target to achieve 100% household electrification in the district within a year.
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