About 82 km from Erode, 76 families including 267 people from the Solaga community live in this hilly settlement. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
After Chief Minister MK Stalin’s announcement in Erode on Friday, Kathirim, a remote settlement in the hilly areas of Chennampatti forest, is going to be electrified for the first time.
The ₹ 2.50-crore project aims to uplift the standard of living of its residents, who have lived without reliable power supply for generations. About 82 km from Erode, 76 families including 267 people of Solaga community live in this village. It is situated at an altitude of 1,052 meters in the Chennampatti forest range of Erode forest division under the jurisdiction of Bargur Panchayat Sangh in Anthiyur taluk.
As there is no motorable road, one has to walk 9 km from the Malayalathan Colony over the rough terrain of the hills to reach the settlement.
For a short period in 2018, the settlement received solar-powered lighting. Two bulbs were provided to each household. However, now most of the batteries are not working and the village is in darkness after sunset.
Lack of electricity and transportation pose significant challenges to residents, especially students and during medical emergencies.
For accessibility, in 2022, a single-layer water-bound macadam road was constructed at a cost of ₹ 1.47 crore in the hilly terrain leading up to the settlement. However, heavy damage has been done to the road due to rain and other reasons. The road is being repaired.
An engineer from Tangedco told The Hindu that 80 poles will be erected in the hilly terrain to provide electricity to every house and tenders for the project will be invited soon. “After the work order is issued, the contractor aims to complete the project within six months,” he said, “transporting poles through the forest is a challenge.
He said that it will be easier after the road is repaired.
published – December 22, 2024 at 12:42 pm IST