Mongbung yet to experience glow of a bulb
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Loitongbam Geet

Imphal, November 28 2011: Despite the claim of the Congress-led SPF government of equal development of both the hills and valley areas of the state, villagers of Mongbung under Singhat Assembly Constituency of Churachandpur district are yet to see the light emitted from electric bulbs.

Although electric cables have been laid out across the length and breadth of the village, there is still no electricity supply in Mongbung.

Interestingly, Bamboo poles have also been used in between two remotely erected electric poles for carrying the cable wires.

Located around 30 kms to the north of New Bazar, Churachandpur along Churachandpur-Sugnu road, Mongbung is a tiny hamlet predominantly inhabited by Zou tribe.

Most of the villagers depend on agricultural activities for livelihood and there are around 700 eligible voters in the village.

In the absence of power supply, the entire village remains in pitch darkness at night creating an eerie atmosphere.

Installation of a 33/11 KV capacity power sub-station with funding from Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) at Singhat may have been completed long ago, but the villagers continue to live under the expectation of seeing their houses being lit with electricity at night.

There is also no sign of any progress in the work of installing electric poles from Beihang.

Along with government of India sanctioning a total of Rs 381.83 cores for nine projects to be taken in Manipur under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, the state government is claimed to have taken up necessary measures to ensure power supply to 436 virgin villages, 446 de-electrified villages, 1378 electrified village (intensification) and 747 habitation/hamlet villages.

But the failure of the department concerned has left many remote villages in darkness, literally.

So far, only 103 virgin villages, 124 de-electrified villages, 228 intensification villages and 100 hamlets have been provided electric connection.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, one villager of Mongbung informed that since there is no electric supply, all the villagers try to finish their household chores including cooking, eating and washing utensils for the night, while there is still daylight.

In such a situation, there is no question of children studying their lesson at night in Mongbung.

The villager also pointed out that the existing Churachandpur-Sugnu Road is in urgent need for repairing and black-topping.

It is the only road connecting the village with the rest of the world.

But it remains dusty during summer and knee-deep in mud during rainy season.

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