Shantha(Chopal) — The ₹65 crore 66/33 kv substation at Lastadhar, celebrated at its inauguration by the local MLA few years ago now lies in neglect, turning into a refuge for illegal activities and endangering public safety.
Designed to supply electricity to Tehsil Chopal, addressing low voltage issues and erratic power cuts, the substation’s decline highlights a failure of oversight and maintenance by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).
According to locals, the substation neglect is understandable as its ₹40,000 light fixture has been stolen by the miscreants lastvyear.
Unprotected and unfinished, the site is now a free-for-all, serving as a haven for thieves and drug addicts, while cattle wander in and out, risking their lives and safety.
Despite the critical role of the 33/66 kV substation in stabilizing the region’s power supply, residents continue to face frequent outages.
The infrastructure’s decay is exacerbated by a lack of dedicated staff and incomplete boundary walls, leaving it vulnerable to further damage and misuse.
The HPSEBL, responsible for the substation from its Shimla office, has kept a partime chowkidar.
Local residents, frustrated by the ongoing neglect, have lodged complaints with the electricity department, but their pleas have gone unanswered for over a year.
The substation in Lastadhar, situated in Shantha village, Dewat Gram Panchayat, Tehsil Chopal, Shimla district, now stands as a stark symbol of neglect, urgently needing intervention to prevent its further decay.
A senior HPSEBL officer in Chopal stated that oversight rests with the electrical wing in Shimla, reflecting a gap between responsibility and action that leaves the substation to rot.
Immediate action is needed to secure its boundaries, complete the building, and protect the infrastructure, ensuring it fulfills its intended role in stabilizing power supply for Shantha, Shilgrhan, Hirag, Dewat and Chopal residents.
