Thousands of residents of the coal-rich Surguja region which lies in northern parts of the state witnessed power supply from their own home state after nearly a two-decade as the new Congress regime worked overnight since December last to install electricity poles and ensure power supply in forested Janakpur area.
The residents of 174 villages under Janakpur area of Surguja enjoyed power supply from their home state thank to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel who took personal interests to ensure power supply in the area. Earlier the residents were getting power at higher rate from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, also holding the energy ministry, came to know about the power woes faced by villagers of Janakpur area. The villagers were being supplied power from Madhya Pradesh at higher rate through 33KV line, the distance of which is 100 kilometres.
Around 4178 consumers were facing problem due to low voltage and erratic power supply for years. On regular basis, they were also facing power cuts. If any technical snag had to be developed in power supply, they had to totally rely on bordering state officials-employees. Thus, the villagers have to remain without power for several days till it is rectified.
Chhattisgarh was procuring power from Madhya Pradesh of about 1.14 million units at cost of Rs 7.21 per unit causing burden of Rs 82 lakh per month to exchequer.
Chief Minister then directed the Power Company to resolve the matter. Now after power supply connected from state, power is being made available to villagers at Rs 5.43 per unit thus saving around Rs 20.30 lakh per month.
The officials intimated that the 33KV power supply line covers 60 kilometres through forested area, was completed within a period of a three-and-a-half month. The supply has been drawn from 33/11 KV substation at Kelhari. The total investment was Rs 13.88 crore. The voltage in the area has now increased to 27 KV with new line instead of earlier 23 KV