Chamba. Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is counted among the most backward districts of the country and this news is confirming this fact. Because even after seven decades of independence, there is a village in the district where till date the electric bulb has not lit. This matter is more surprising because Chamba is the same district where India’s first hydro project was established 117 years ago and even now many of its villages are in darkness.
In fact, Tilang village of Bhajotra Panchayat of Chamba district is still forced to live in darkness. 7-8 families here are waiting to see the flicker of an electric bulb. High mountains all around, greenery and beautiful views make this village like a beautiful tourist destination, but lack of basic facilities like electricity has made the life of the villagers very difficult. To charge the mobile, the villagers have to walk for about two hours to another village. Children’s education gets affected and even daily tasks become difficult. Due to lack of electricity, people are forced to leave the village and live somewhere else.
Patients are carried from the village on their shoulders
In events like marriage, one has to order a generator, which is not only expensive but is also very difficult to transport due to inaccessible roads and in case of illness, 8–10 people are required to take the patient to the ambulance, which is dependent on the seriousness of the situation. The government has provided water facility in the village, but the most important facility for daily use – electricity – is still not available. The surprising thing is that electricity has reached another village just 200–300 meters away, but Tilang village is still in darkness.
The surprising thing is that electricity has reached another village just 200–300 meters away, but Tilang village is still in darkness.
Local people say that they have appealed to the Panchayat representatives and public representatives several times, but till now no concrete action has been taken. Villagers believe that if electricity and road facilities are available, this area can become an untouched tourist destination, which can also provide employment opportunities to the local youth.
The youth of the village told that his dream is to have TV and other modern facilities in his homes also.
Charge your phone by going two kilometers away
The youth of the village told that his dream is to have TV and other modern facilities in his homes also. At the same time, to charge the mobile one has to travel about two kilometers and two hours, hence many times the phone has to be kept switched off. The youth say that today when the world is searching for life on Mars, darkness is spread in Tilang village of Chamba district. The villagers now hope that their voice will reach the government and Tilang village will also soon be lit with electric lights.
The villagers now hope that their voice will reach the government and Tilang village will also soon be lit with electric lights.
India’s first hydro project was established in Chamb.
It is noteworthy that this whole matter is also shameful. Because electricity came to Chamba in the year 1908 and here Raja Bhuri Singh of Chamba had installed a 450 kilowatt power house near a place called Balu. This hydro project was the first hydro power station in India and the second in Asia. When this power station was installed, there was no electricity even in the big cities of that time, but many areas of Chamba district were illuminated. But even now electricity has not reached many villages and the reason behind this is the failure of the governments.
