Delegates listen to the grievances of people at the event organised by Greenpeace India in Loha Kapsi village in Madhubani district on Thursday. Picture by Mohan Mahato

Madhubani, May 5: Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Greenpeace India, in co-ordination with NGO Nav Jagriti, today organised a public hearing on the ground realities of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), at Loha Kapsi village under Benipati block of the district.

Binod Singh, a member of the Legislative Council, and Khajuali MLA Arun Shankar Prasad were present at the meet. But no official of Bihar State Electricity Board or National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, responsible for rural electrification, was present at the meet to listen to the grievances of the people.

The two NGOs conducted a sample survey in six villages under different blocks, including Gopalpur under Harlakhi block, Ragepura under Bisfi block, Parwalpur under Madhepur block, Deora under Babubarhi block, Gidrahi under Lokhi block and Kapsi, between March 27 and April 25 to find out the ground realities of the RGGVY implementation.

“During the survey, I met several people in the rural areas and got to know about the problems they are facing and how the energy crisis affects their lives,” Arpana Udupa, spokesperson, Greenpeace India, told The Telegraph.

She added: “Since villagers receive electricity for only four to six hours a day, it is not adequate for their needs. They want power in the evening and late night too.”

Villagers, however, were not too happy with the implementation of the project so far.

Kapsi resident Bhogendra Thakur said: “RGGVY is meant only for below poverty line families but when we go to the officials to get connections, they seek bribe.” Greenpeace that also works at the policy level is conducting the survey in three states — Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Their team, led by Udupa, comprises eight other social activists — Ranjan Kumar Jha, Durgesh Kumar, Dilip Chaudhary, Mohammad Altaf, Rajendra Kumar Jha, Sanjay Kumar, Mohammad Gassuddin and Ram Krishna.

After completing the social audit, the report will be submitted to the Planning Commission so that the Union government is made aware of the ground realities of rural electrification across India.

At the meet today, the dignitaries found that most people who are supposed to benefit from project were unaware of the rural electrification scheme sponsored by the central government. Sources said the Centre has allotted Rs 4,500 crore to Bihar — more than any other state.

A source said the government should focus on renewable energy in conformity with local-level energy availability, such as solar energy, hydro energy, cowdung power plants and husk power plant so that power supply could be maintained at lower cost.

Around 100 households can benefit from solar power plants if Rs 16 lakh to Rs 18 lakh is invested, said a representative of a private company working in the field.