Ramechhap, May 20 Most of the wooden electric poles are in a dilapidated state in various VDCs of Ramechhap. The poles have decayed due to termite infestation. Ramechhap residents have been living under constant fear as the poles could collapse any time. Rabin Babu Ghimire, chief of Manthali branch of Nepal Electricity Authority, said the wooden poles had become a matter of headache to the locals as well as the authorities. More than 20 VDCs of the district, including Pakarbas, Deurali, Sanghutar, Manthali, Kathjor and Bhaluwajor were electrified recently. Nirajan Dhungel, of Pakarbas-6, complained that the locals were living under constant fear. Dhungel added that most of the poles in his village were about to fall while some had collapsed. He lamented that the NEA employees had turned a blind eye to the matter. NEA Manthali branch, however, said they could not repair or replace the poles for want of budget. Ghimire said his office was forced to repair the poles and supply electricity to the villages with a meagre budget.