SOLDIERS who risked their lives to bring electricity to parts of Afghanistan have been betrayed, it has been claimed.

Six years after Colchester’s paratroopers delivered a turbine through enemy territory to the Kajaki Dam, it still has not been installed.

Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell, who raised the issue in Parliament, said: “I went to Camp Bastion after the mission was undertaken.

“The lads were jubilant. It was difficult and they did not lose a single person.

“It was the first time all four paratrooper battalions have been on the same mission since the Second World War.

“So I am angry they put their lives on the line to take this and six years later it is still not installed.”

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond claimed the US are “looking at what could be done to bring it into operational use, because doing so could satisfy the electricity deficit in Kandahar”, but similar claims have been made previously and nothing has happened.

Operation Oqab Tsuka was led by troops from Merville Barracks, in Colchester.

The five-day operation took two years to plan and involved thousands of troops travelling through fiercely-contested Taleban territory.

The convoy of 100 vehicles was commanded by 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps. Colchester’s 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, patrolled the area and 3 Para secured the dam with 7 Para, Royal Horse Artillery providing artillery support.

The area had been taken by British troops by 2006.

Soldiers from Colchester, including Cpl Mark Wright, were killed and injured in 2006 and a film called Kajaki is being made about their heroics.

By 2008 the area had been secured and the turbine arrived to help the Afghan people.

In 2010 control of the area was passed to US Forces.

Sir Bob said: “I wanted to draw the attention of the relevant authorities.

“Our soldiers did their job, did what they were called upon to do and did it bravely