Residents of No. 3 Borghuli village in Assam’s Lakhimpur district took to the streets on Wednesday, protesting prolonged low voltage issues and demanding immediate installation of a high-capacity transformer. The villagers urged Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to personally intervene and prevent further escalation of unrest in the area.
Protest Over Basic Infrastructure
The aggrieved villagers, including farmers, students, and shopkeepers, gathered near the local power office holding placards and chanting slogans. They complained that their repeated appeals to the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had gone unheard for over six months.
“Our electrical appliances burn out frequently. Water pumps don’t function, and children can’t study properly at night. How are we supposed to live like this?” asked protester Binita Doley, a schoolteacher.
Years of Struggle, No Permanent Fix
According to residents, Borghuli has been suffering from low voltage for over three years. Despite several assurances from power officials, no permanent solution has been implemented. The existing transformer, installed over a decade ago, can no longer handle the growing demand of the expanding village.
Babul Chetia, a farmer, shared his frustration: “We rely on electric pumps for irrigation. Every dry season, we face huge losses because the voltage is too low to run them. We have submitted letters and even met the local MLA, but nothing has changed.”
Memorandum Submitted to Authorities
The villagers submitted a memorandum to the local circle officer and the APDCL division office, detailing their grievances and requesting urgent transformer installation. They warned that protests would intensify if their concerns continued to be ignored.
The memorandum stated:
“We demand a new 100 kVA transformer within the next 15 days. Failing which, we will escalate the protest to the district headquarters.”
Local leaders also appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through social media and tagged government handles on X (formerly Twitter), urging swift intervention.
Government Response Awaited
When contacted, an APDCL official on condition of anonymity admitted that the transformer serving Borghuli was outdated. “Yes, the voltage drops during peak hours. A request for a new transformer has been sent to the higher authorities, and we hope for a resolution soon,” the official said.
The Assam government has, in recent years, undertaken several electrification drives under schemes like Saubhagya and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). However, villages like Borghuli remain on the margins of these benefits due to administrative delays and infrastructural constraints.
Political Pressure Mounts
Local opposition leaders criticized the BJP-led state government for failing to ensure basic infrastructure in rural Assam. Congress leader Pranab Deka accused the ruling party of ignoring rural problems while focusing on headline-grabbing projects.
“The government is busy making announcements, but what about villages still struggling for basic electricity?” he said. Deka called on the energy minister to conduct a site visit to Borghuli and expedite the transformer installation process.
A Call for Swift Action
The villagers have given the government a deadline. If no action is taken within the next two weeks, they plan to stage a district-wide protest involving neighboring villages facing similar issues.
With Assam receiving central funds for rural electrification and power grid upgrades, citizens hope that the administration will prioritize villages like Borghuli. Timely intervention could restore not only voltage levels but also the people’s faith in governance.
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