30 yrs on, Sirsa hamlets sans power

Residents of several hamlets (Dhanis) in Jamal village, located in the Ellenabad segment of Sirsa district, have been living without electricity for the past 31 years.

Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Ekta (BKE), who visited the area after reports of crop damage due to heavy rain and hail, said locals informed him that around 10 hamlets had never been connected to the power grid. He added that locals had even deposited security for connections years ago.

Ironically, Jamal village has two major power stations, 132 KV and 33 KV, which are just situated just 1.5 km away from hamlets.

“It’s shocking that in an era where we talk about ‘Digital India’ and inclusive development, entire communities are still living in complete darkness,” said Aulakh. He criticised the Haryana Government and the Electricity Department for failing to provide even basic infrastructure to these rural households.

The affected families, including children, are forced to rely on candles and oil lamps to study and go about daily life. Villagers said successive governments had failed to provide them electricity.

“In the past, the department used to install connections at its own cost, but now even for new connections, villagers are asked to pay for poles, wires and other equipment,” Aulakh said.

He urged the Haryana Government and district administration to provide free electricity connections to these long-neglected hamlets without further delay. He also pointed out that during the 2021 Ellenabad bypoll, a social worker got some poles installed but the department failed to add power line.