CESC imposes fine on Maldare GP over illegal power connections to tribal areas

Madikeri: Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) has imposed a fine on Maldare gram panchayat for providing illegal electricity connections to tribal areas within its jurisdiction.
The Maldare gram panchayat consists of six villages, including Achutha Paisari and Myalathpura tribal colonies. The panchayat installed streetlights in these areas to ensure safety of tribal residents, who often face threat from wild animals due to thick forest surrounding their houses.
Panchayat vice-president Kunjanna explained, "Streetlights are inevitable for the safety of tribal people who get to their houses during night time. They fear attack by wild animals. The panchayat has installed streetlights in these areas to help villagers be alert during the night hours."
The panchayat justified the installation of streetlights as a necessary measure to alert the villagers of the danger posed by wild animals. However, due to the distance between the streetlights and the houses, the installation of meters was deemed impossible. The CESC imposed a fine of Rs 48,180 on the panchayat, considering the connections to be illegal, he said.
In response to the development, Swaraj, a junior engineer at CESC Siddapur division, said the streetlights were installed against the rules of the department. He mentioned that the department informed the gram panchayat about the issue two years ago and recently imposed a fine for the illegal installation of streetlights.
Swaraj warned that if the streetlights are not installed with the permission of CESC, they will be removed as per the orders of the higher-ups. He emphasised that the problem can be resolved if the panchayat obtains proper permission from CESC to install streetlights.