BETTIAH, Nov. 4 -- As darkness envelops Jhandu Tola, about 40 km from Bagaha in West Champaran district, the hamlet flickers with the glow of lamps, torchlights and bulbs powered by private solar panels - electric lights remain practically non-existent here. One would expect residents to retire early and wake up to another routine morning in darkness. However, after being denied on-grid electricity since Independence due to forest department restrictions, a ray of hope has finally reached the villagers living in and around the dense forests of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR). The optimism follows the state government's initiative to provide electricity to this remote part of West Champaran district during the ongoing election season. Hindustan Times spoke to residents of three settlements - Jhandu Tola, Bin Toli, and Chakdahwa - and found villagers torn between decades of hardship and newfound hope for on-grid power, which they believe will finally bring relief to their long-standing woes. "Better late than never," is the common refrain here, even as villagers express disappointment over the government-installed solar panels. Despite that, residents have decided to vote enthusiastically, motivated by a "feel good" factor and the promise of electricity. "We have never witnessed on-grid electricity in our villages. We felt some relief in 2018 when solar panels were installed despite the forest department's restrictions. But our happiness was short-lived - the batteries were stolen a few months later," said Vidhya Sagar Kushwaha, a resident of Jhandu Tola in Bagaha-II block. "At times, like other women in the village, my wife has to use a torchlight to complete household chores, including cooking," said Ramu Ram, another resident. The woes of Chakdahwa's residents are no less severe. "As the batteries of government-installed solar panels have failed, we depend on our own private panels. Earlier, 113 households relied on government facilities. Now, on cloudy days, we even go to Susta village in Nepal, just a kilometre away, to charge our mobile phones," said Gulab Ansari, a Chakdahwa villager. Amid this prolonged deprivation, the state government's plan to build an on-grid/off-grid hybrid power station worth Rs.139 crore has renewed hope among residents of Jhandu Tola, Bin Tola, Kani Tola, and Chakdahwa. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had laid the foundation stone during his Pragati Yatra in December last year, with completion targeted within 18 months. "It feels good to think that we'll finally get rid of this problem. Better late than never. But the supply should be foolproof and reliable, like in other areas," said Basant Kumar, a resident of Jhandu Tola, echoing the mood across the settlements....