more-in Three tribal settlements where electricity remained a distant dream for the residents even after 71 years of independence were fulfilled after automatic solar lighting system was installed at their houses recently. A report on “Electricity a distant dream for these settlements on hills” was published in The Hindu that highlighted the pathetic life of people in the hamlets without power in all these years. Malliamman Durgham in Kadambur Hills, Ramaranai in Talamalai and Kathirimalai in Bargur Hills, all located in remote hilly areas that has no road connectivity, were provided 226 solar panels at a total cost of ? 23.3 lakh. While electric posts installed through the forest area to Malliamman Durgham was destroyed in fire in 1970s, the other hamlets were receiving electricity for the first time. People in these settlements were using kerosene lamps during night hours and all their electronic devices, including television, were kept idle. The absence of electricity forced many families to move to other areas while others stayed in the hamlets to continue agricultural activities in their small piece of land. Since these hamlets are located inside forest areas, no roads are available and could be reached after walking for two to four hours. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) told The Hindu that the settlements were located in hilly terrains where installing electric post is not possible. Hence, solar panels were installed, Malliamman Durgham (123 panels), Ramaranai (18 panels) and Kathirimalai (85 panels). Other houses in these hamlets will also be provided solar panels in the next phase, they said and added that all the hamlets in the district were electrified now.

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