Villagers Face 15-Day Blackout in Narmadapuram; Collector Intervenes
Residents of Babai Khurd village in Narmadapuram district have spent the last 15 days in darkness following a transformer failure, prompting a formal plea to district authorities. On Tuesday, a delegation of villagers met with District Collector Somesh Mishra during the weekly public grievance hearing (Jansunwai) to demand the immediate restoration of their power supply.
The prolonged outage has severely disrupted daily life, with families reporting that children are unable to study for upcoming exams and that the lack of electricity has left them vulnerable to insects and pests during the rainy season. This is the second time in just over a week that the community has sought administrative intervention; eight days ago, residents staged a two-hour road blockade on the Itarsi-Jamani route, ending the protest only after receiving assurances that the transformer would be replaced.
Power Company Cites Outstanding Dues
The local power utility has attributed the delay in repairs to significant payment defaults. According to DGM Sandeep Pandey, the village has an outstanding electricity bill of approximately Rs 13 lakh.
- Company officials state that less than 50% of total bills have been paid since meters were installed.
- Restoration of the transformer is contingent upon either a 10% payment of the total arrears or 50% of individual consumers settling their accounts.
Following the hearing, Collector Mishra directed electricity department officials to expedite a resolution to the crisis.
Infrastructure and Administrative Grievances Highlighted
The Jansunwai also addressed other pressing civic and administrative issues in the district:
Electricity Woes in Vedic Vihar Colony
Residents of Vedic Vihar Colony, Phase-3, reported that they are forced to rely on temporary meters due to the developer’s failure to complete electrification work. This arrangement has resulted in inflated electricity costs. Developer Mukesh Srivastava responded by stating that the application for a new power line has been filed and utility poles have already been installed, promising a swift resolution.
Pending Pension Arrears
Archana and Ajay Kaushal, residents of Pipariya, sought redress for a five-year delay in receiving their late father’s Sixth Pay Commission arrears. Despite multiple complaints filed through the CM Helpline following the death of their parents, the payment remains outstanding. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Rajesh Shukla has assured the family that the matter will be processed for payment.
