The Impressive TimesRaipur: As Chhattisgarh State Power Companies (formerly Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board) celebrate 25 years of their establishment, the state takes pride in its transformation into a power-surplus region recognized as the “Power Hub of India.” Established on November 15, 2000, the organization’s silver jubilee marks a remarkable journey of growth and resilience. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Raman Singh, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and the state’s longest-serving Energy Minister from December 2003 to December 2018, shared his reflections on the state’s success story in the energy sector. Dr. Singh expressed heartfelt satisfaction over the strides made in the past two and a half decades. “After fifteen years of dedicated effort, it gives me immense satisfaction that Chhattisgarh is not only self-reliant in power but also among the leading electricity-producing states in India,” he said. He recalled that when Chhattisgarh was formed, it inherited a weak infrastructure and limited electricity access, particularly in Bastar and Surguja. “We accepted the challenge and worked tirelessly to bring light to every corner of the state by laying transmission lines, installing transformers, and connecting thousands of villages to the grid,” he added.
During his tenure, Chhattisgarh achieved the milestone of becoming a “Zero Power Cut State.” Reflecting on this achievement, Dr. Singh said, “It wasn’t an easy journey. We began from zero and built an efficient system that ensured uninterrupted electricity even in remote areas. Earlier, the entire region would plunge into darkness due to single-line transmission faults. We changed that by introducing alternative lines and strengthening infrastructure to guarantee steady power supply.” He credited the state’s engineers, workers, and technicians for their hard work and commitment in turning this vision into reality. “No village in Chhattisgarh should remain in darkness—that was our mission, and I take pride that we fulfilled it,” he stated.
On the long-pending Bodhghat project, Dr. Singh emphasized that it holds immense potential for the Bastar region. “The project needs renewed environmental clearance through joint efforts of the state and central governments. I believe Bodhghat will be life-giving for Bastar. Under the current leadership, new hope has emerged, and the Prime Minister has shown a positive approach toward its progress,” he said. Recounting challenges faced during the Maoist insurgency, Dr. Singh recalled the 2007 Jharraghat incident in Dantewada, where Maoists destroyed three high-tension towers, plunging five districts into darkness. “Nearly 25 lakh people were affected, and the entire Bastar region went dark for 12 days. Our engineers and workers risked their lives to restore power. I personally traveled through dense forests to motivate them, and their courage inspired me deeply. They completed a two-day task in one day, and the light returned to Bastar.
That moment remains one of the proudest in my life,” he shared. Looking toward the future, Dr. Singh said Chhattisgarh is poised for a new energy revolution. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the state has achieved historic milestones in attracting energy investments.
The Chhattisgarh Energy Investors Summit 2025 in Raipur secured investment proposals worth over Rs.3 lakh crore, signaling the next phase of power development,” he noted. Known affectionately among colleagues as a “doctor who thinks like an engineer,” Dr. Singh smiled and said, “Energy has always fascinated me. For 15 years, I worked closely with everyone from linemen to chairmen. I studied every technical and administrative detail of generation, transmission, and distribution. That constant engagement gave me deep insight into the field, and perhaps that’s why I am called an engineer at heart.” With the completion of 25 years of Chhattisgarh’s power companies, Dr. Raman Singh’s reflections encapsulate the state’s journey from darkness to light, a journey driven by vision, determination, and the unwavering belief that true satisfaction lies in lighting every home.
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