Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RJP)

Mangalore, Sep 26: Basic amenities may be scarce in this forest area at Ontedakaje in Moodbidri, but a mini hydroelectric project of the government has ensured that three families belonging to Malekudiya, a backward tribe living here, have a comfortable life at least as far as power supply is concerned.

This 2 KV electricity generating facility has been operational since the past 8 years. The small project was implemented by the then state government under the rural fuel energy project in 2006-2007. Three families in Ontedakaje contributed Rs 10,000 each for the project. The project has been implemented at a cost of Rs 1.30 lac through Energy Tech company
of Koppa.

The water which flows from the hill is stopped at a small dam. Four-inch pipes carry the water to a tank 600 ft. away from the dam. Then the water is sent to the turbo fan in the mini hydro plant in 6 inches pipes. From there the electricity generated is sent to the three houses. They get electricity for 10 months of the year except in April and May when there is a summer water scarcity.

There has always been electricity supply in the past 8 years excepting once due to a technical problem. The only problem prevalent is the safety of the wires carrying the electricity. During the lightning, the wires catch fire. This problem needs to be addressed by the government if it is serious about the implementation of same scheme in other rural areas.

Daregudde panchayat PDO Prashanth Shetty, president Subhashchandra Chowta and and former president Monappa Moolya visited this place with the media recently and lauded this achievement.

Ontedakaje derives its name from the word Onte in Tulu which means a type of bamboo found in this area. Ontedakaje is situated near Aliyur sandwiched between two villages, Daregudde of Moodbidri taluk and Renjala of Karkala taluk. It is inhabited by Malekudi tribal people who have been living here for the past 300 years. The people are completely dependent on forest products for their livelihood. The families rely on forest produce for their living. The facilities provided to rural population are not provided to them.