Maoist-hit villages in Chhattisgarh see light for first time

RAIPUR: Seventeen forest villages in the Maoist-affected Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh have been electrified for the first time, state officials announced.Under the chief minister Majratola Electrification Scheme, remote villages including Katuljhora, Kattapar, Bodra, Bukmarka, Sambalpur, and others were connected at a cost of Rs 3 crore.Previously, around 540 families depended on solar energy and lanterns, many of which were stolen or non-functional, leaving residents in darkness. So far, 275 households have received electricity connections, with work ongoing to connect the rest.Villagers celebrated as electric lights illuminated their homes for the first time.Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) Executive Director Shirish Selat inaugurated the project in Tatekasa village. The work involved laying 45 km of 11 kV lines, installing 87 low-tension poles, and setting up 17 transformers.Mr Selat said the challenges of obtaining forest department clearances and transporting equipment through difficult terrain and dense forests, as well as the presence of Maoists in the region. He praised the Chief Minister Majratola Electrification Scheme and the technical team for completing the project.