Dhubri, Feb 12: Residents of Choto Pokalagi, a remote village on the Assam–West Bengal boundary, received electricity for the first time since Independence on Thursday, ending decades of isolation from the power grid after a coordinated effort by Assam Power Distribution authorities and the West Bengal electricity department connected about 350 households.
Choto Pokalagi is administratively part of Assam but is geographically surrounded on all sides by West Bengal, an unusual location that, along with logistical constraints, kept the settlement off the grid for generations. For years villagers petitioned government offices and local representatives for basic power supply but saw little progress, relying instead on kerosene lamps and other traditional lighting.
The new arrangement extended formal grid supply into the village, a move residents and officials say will have immediate practical benefits. “From today, we bid farewell to hurricane lamps,” a resident said, capturing the mood of celebration and relief across the community.
Villagers described the electrification as transformative for everyday life: improved lighting for children studying at night, better conditions for local clinics and vaccine storage, extended hours for small businesses and agricultural processing, and overall safer, more reliable household energy. Officials framed the project as a targeted effort to bring essential infrastructure to border hamlets often overlooked because of administrative and geographic complications.
The connection of Choto Pokalagi underscores the impact of coordinated state-level action in resolving long-standing infrastructure gaps in isolated settlements. For the roughly 350 households now on the grid, power marks not only convenience but a step toward greater access to education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/in-darkness-since-independence-assam-border-village-in-dhubri-gets-electricity-1607352
Category: Assam,Featured
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-02-12 19:10:00
