Diva locals stage rasta roko against MSEB to restore power

Enveloped in darkness, the residents staged a rasta roko in protest

"Hello darkness, my old friend" was not the mantra that more than 1,000 residents of Diva were chanting, as they struggled to get by for five days without electricity.

The MSEB officials finally replaced the transformer after five days

It was only on Sunday afternoon, after 500 women staged a rasta roko the day before, that the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) officials replaced the transformer and restored power.

Activism pays
"Since September 13, there was no electricity in the Ganesh Nagar area of Diva. Residents were regularly visiting the MSEB office and complaining that the transformer needed repairs, but their pleas fell on deaf ears," said Vijay Bhoir a social activist, who claims that though Diva is part of the Thane Municipal Corporation, it is meted out a treatment reserved for rural and neglected areas.

Bhoir says that the Mumbra police stopped the Saturday protest.

"We contacted the MSEB officials who assured us that they will replace the transformer on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, after 2 pm, the transformer was finally changed and the lights came back on. However, last time, the replacement transformer was also an old one, which got damaged within 2 months; I hope it is not the same case again," added Bhoir.

Dilip Khanande, chief official, Diva MSEB said, "We replaced the transformer on Sunday and the electricity problem of the residents had been sorted out."

Problems galore
Sunita Kamble, a resident lived without electricity for the last five days alleges that Diva is neglected every time. Water, electricity and potholes - all are major problems in Diva. With the increase in mosquitoes, the health problems are also on the rise.

"We stopped kids going out of home because of the darkness. The adjoining areas are grassy and in the open space, snakes and other insects thrive," she explained.