In a first since Independence, power comes to Elephanta caves in Maha
MUMBAI: It has taken 70 years, but Gharapuri Island, which houses Elephanta Caves, will be lit up this month for the first time after Independence. Permanent power supply has finally reached Shetbander, Morabandar and Rajbandar, the three villages surrounding the UNESCO world heritage site.
Gharapuri (literally meaning “a city of caves”) is located a mere 10 km off the Mumbai coast on the east, but has been powerless for decades. Lighting up the island, officials said, will boost tourism, as the Elephanta Caves complex has a sizeable footfall of inland and foreign tourists who travel to the island for a day-trip from Gateway of India. The project was to be completed in August 2017, but officials faced clearance hurdles from the forest department.
Rajendra Padte, a resident and former sarpanch of Elephanta, said villagers have been trying to “light up this island since 1980.” Padte told Hindustan Times, “We bought generators, put up proposals for electricity, and even faced rejection owing to paucity of funds, but our effort seems to have finally paid. The trials for power supply have begun.”
Villagers admit that tourists will benefit from a permanent power supply the most, but it will also help families, especially those with children as they can now study into the night. “Their study time was restricted,” Padte said. “They now have a bright future.” The three villages have a combined population of around 950.
Mahesh Baldi, a BJP functionary who has been following up on the project, said village life will change once the residents get uninterrupted electricity.
“Every day, thousands of tourists visit the island. This number will increase once there is uninterrupted power supply. The villagers will earn more, and their children will lead a better life.”
Baldi said that even though the villagers used power through generators between 7 pm and 9 pm, it was not productive. “It is shameful that a UNESCO world heritage site has to wait for 70 years to get power supply,” he added.
A Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) official said this is the first time that the power company has laid undersea cables. The work of laying the 22KV power supply network, up to 25 metres below the sea, was undertaken in February last year, and power for these three villages will be offered from MSEDCL’S Nhavasheva sub-station. Recently, Maharashtra’s energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited the site with officials. Bawankule told energy department officials to submit a proposal for street-lighting in the popular tourist destination.
“We have completed the pilot,” the official said. “Nearly 60 villagers have applied for a new power connection.”