Deogarh, Apr 29: Even after 76 years of Independence and 24 years of BJD rule, many villages are running without electricity connectivity in Odisha. Villagers depend on traditional kerosine-fuelled Dibri lamps. 

Aragena village under Tileibani block in Deogarh block is one such village where the elderely prefer to go to bed and students stop reading after evening due to lack of electricity. Dibri lamp doesn't work much to the expectation.  

According to the information, the State government had in 2017 awarded a tender to Odisha Akshaya Shakti Vikash for the establishment of solar energy in Aragena village. Crores of rupees were spent on providing solar lamps to households. However, they ran for two to three months only because no maintenance was done.  

"Since the beginning, nobody from the contractual agency visited my house. The solar system worked for two months only. My family was pushed to darkness again. We prefer to close our doors a little while after the evening. Our children are facing difficulties in studying as it gets dark every day," said a villager. 

Villagers alleged that crores of rupees was lost due to negligence by the contractual agency, Akshaya Shakti Vikash. They blamed the State government for showing undue favour to the contractual agency. 

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