The BJP government of Assam has responded to a request made by the Trinamul government of Bengal to supply power to three villages in Cooch Behar near the interstate border.

Last month, a senior official of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) sent a letter to the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), saying three villages in Tufanganj-II block of Cooch Behar, lack power supply, and it would be cheaper for Bengal to buy APDCL’s power to the villages.

On Tuesday, teams from both power distribution companies WBSEDCL and APDCL conducted a joint site visit for the feasibility of electricity supply to the villages.

“The visit was made with APDCL authorities to extend the APDCL network at two points for grid power at Falimari (for Purba Falimari, Chhat Falimari villages) and Baro Laukuthi. They (the APDCL) showed positive response and will submit a technical feasibility report as and when their higher authority asks for it,” said a source in WBSEDCL.

Another survey has been planned on March 25 for a final estimation.

Villages Purba Falimari, Chhat Falimari and Baro Laukuthi are on the other side of the Sankosh river, which runs along the Bengal-Assam border.

This January, residents of these villages, with some 10,000 dwellers in all, announced they would boycott panchayat elections if they didn’t get electricity.

Trinamul local leaders informed their state-level leaders about the boycott call. The state power department acted and a letter was sent to the APDCL.

“If the WBSEDCL supplies electricity, the power cable has to be passed over the Sankosh river, which is costly. The APDCL’s power supply is available near the villages. If the APDCL sets up infrastructure and supplies power to the villages, the WBSEDCL will pay for it,” said a department source.

Avijit De Bhowmik, the Cooch Behar district Trinamul chief, who spoke to angry villagers on March 20, welcomed the survey.

“The Left Front government never paid attention to the inconveniences of these villagers. Our government has taken up the initiative to provide electricity in these areas and will buy power from Assam. We believe work will start soon,” he said.

BJP leaders scoffed at the Bengal government.

“Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders often criticise BJP state governments. But they had to approach a BJPruled state for power to villages of Bengal. It indicates the insincerity of the Trinamulgovernment to augment basic infrastructure such as power supply in villages,” said Nikhil Ranjan Dey, the BJP MLA ofCooch Behar South.