Raipahad residents reject Odisha power connection

Raipahad, a disputed village under Golur panchayat in Koraput district, has become the centre of fresh controversy after its residents reportedly rejected electricity connections from the state government and chose to continue receiving power from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

The issue gained public attention after Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Ltd. (TPSODL) posted on social media X that electrification work in Raipahad had been completed under the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) scheme. According to the power company, a transformer was installed and electric meters were set up in every household. However, villagers allegedly refused to use Odisha’s power supply since Andhra Pradesh had already electrified the area.

This sparked a row, with the district administration and Nandapur block officials rejecting TPSODL’s claims. While TPSODL said a committee led by Nandapur Block Development Officer (BDO) Durga Prasad Dora had been formed to convince villagers to switch to Odisha’s grid, BDO Dora refuted this, stating no such committee existed and the company’s statement lacked factual accuracy.