Valayam (Kozhikode): The Valayam police station, located in an area facing Maoist threat, is plunged into darkness whenever there is a power outage. Recently, a modern multi-storey building was constructed at a cost of ₹1.5 crore sanctioned by the state government. However, the new building still lacks an inverter or generator. As a result, the station is left in the dark at night when electricity fails.

The only backup is a rechargeable portable table lamp, under the dim light the remaining work is carried out. Inside the station, even routine activities like eating meals are done using mobile phone flashlights. People passing by on the road often cannot even tell that a police station is functioning there.

Installing a new inverter would cost over ₹50,000. The new building was constructed by the Kerala Police Housing Society at a cost of ₹1.5 crore. However, citing exhaustion of funds, the building was prepared for inauguration without completing essential facilities. Police personnel themselves pooled money to complete works like interlocking and interiors before the inauguration.

The small inverter from the old building cannot support the new multi-storey structure. Despite repeated requests to the Home Department for funds to install a new inverter, no decision has been made so far. Earlier, a station building constructed at Valayam by the Police Housing Society had to be demolished and rebuilt within 15 years due to construction-related corruption. This time too, allegations surfaced that the sanctioned ₹1.5 crore was not fully utilised for the station’s needs.