Memorabilia of total electrification neglected

Four years after it was carved out of Punjab Haryana became the first fully electrified state of the country when electricity supply reached Uchani village around 5 km from the Karnal district headquarters on November 29 1970

Updated At : 06:23 AM May 26, 2018 IST

Parveen Arora

Four years after it was carved out of Punjab, Haryana became the first fully electrified state of the country when electricity supply reached Uchani village, around 5 km from the Karnal district headquarters, on November 29, 1970.

The then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, and the then Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, inaugurated a stone to mark the achievement of total electrification of rural Haryana. A symbolic tower was also installed outside the village, which is now lying in a neglected state.

The tower was shifted backward around five years ago when the Panipat-Jalandhar National Highway was being widened. But this symbol of appreciable achievement is in a dilapidated condition. It seems none is concerned about its upkeep.

The tower symbolized progress and on its top was a bulb that would light up during night to make people aware of this milestone.

Former Chief Minister Bansi Lal was fond of the tower. During his third tenure as Chief Minister in 1996, he noticed its pathetic condition and directed officials concerned to restore its grace. He also gave orders for the installation of a bulb on the top of the tower so that people could see it even during night.

“I was posted in Karnal district at that time. The district authorities asked me to beautify the tower and also install a bulb on it. I got the tower painted with silver colour and also got a bulb installed on it,” says an official.

In those days, there was a kiosk near the tower and I requested its owner to switch on the bulb during night and switch it off during day time to save electricity, he says.

The memory of that day is still fresh in the minds of local residents. Earlier, Uchani was part of Uchana village. People of Uchani village used to lit kerosene lamps during night. “I was in Class X and was witness to that historic day when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated electricity supply to the village, thus making Haryana a fully electrified state,” says Balbir Singh, a resident.

Since the tower signifies the achievement of providing electricity to the last village of the state, it is the duty of the district administration and the UHBVN to maintain it, he adds.

Rajinder Kumar, another resident, says that whenever they pass by the tower they recall the happy moment when they got electricity in the village. The administration should take care of this structure and maintain its beauty.

While for the Power Corporation the village has historical significance, there are at present 44 defaulters there who have to pay bills of Rs 4.25 lakh. The village has 325 households and of these 297 have power connections.

AK Raheja, Superintending Engineer, UHBVN, says that with electricity supply to Uchani village, Haryana became a fully electrified state. The glory of the tower will be restored soon so that the coming generations could know about this milestone.