Mangaluru: Around 120 families, including members of the Malekudiya tribal community living within the Kudremukh National Park area in Belthangady taluk, are currently without electricity and rely largely on solar power for basic needs.Although the state government has sanctioned Rs 75 lakh to electrify the village, the district administration has offered residents two options: receive regular power connections or accept a government compensation package and relocate outside the forest area. Mescom chairman Harish Kumar said the situation involves balancing tribal welfare with forest conservation norms. Harish told TOI that Mescom, along with the district administration, has initiated efforts to provide electricity to tribal households and other families in the Western Ghats region. He said a recent district-level meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office discussed the two alternatives — immediate electrification or relocation with compensation. A final decision on the compensation package, including its amount and related benefits, is yet to be taken. Meanwhile, work has begun for laying distribution cables to supply electricity to 12 families in Sulkeri Mogaru village, where 27 families, including Malekudiya tribals, are currently living without power.
