KORAPUT/ BERHAMPUR: Over 600 people from three villages in Koraput district’s Pottangi block have threatened to boycott the three-tier panchayat polls in protest against the absence of an all-weather road to their villages.
Residents of Podalguda, Nuaguda and Dumuriguda alleged that they face much problems in going to the block headquarters for different works in the absence of a proper road. “Our village lies at a distance of about 8 km from the block headquarters and no four-wheeler can go to our village in the absence of a road. We face lot of difficulties in transporting our agricultural produce to urban markets and its a nightmare to shift a patient as ambulances can’t reach the village,” alleged Arjun Pangi, a resident of Dumuriguda.
According to the villagers, the road constructed a few years back has been completely damaged and their repeated pleas for a new road have fallen on deaf ears.
“With much difficulty, a four-wheeler can go up to Podalguda, about 3 km from Pottangi, but not to our village. Every election we are assured of construction of the road but it has not happened so far,” said a Nuaguda resident. “Hence, this time we have decided to boycott the panchayat election,” he added.
In Kandhamal district, the villagers of Adasipada panchayat in Khajuripada block have decided to boycott the three-tier panchayat poll to be held next month as their locality lacks mobile connectivity.
Due to the villagers’ “No Network No Vote” call, not a single nomination paper has been filed for sarpanch, samiti member and ward member posts in the past three days. The villagers, under the banner of the Adasipada Aware Citizen Forum, have also staged a protest in front of the panchayat office and requested the aspiring candidates not to file their nominations. The panchayat has 13 wards with over 3,500 people.
“Government officials from Khajuripada block on Wednesday tried to convince the villagers. A three-member official team rushed to the village to talk them. Since the model code of conduct is in force, we can’t give any assurance to the villagers on their demands, but can convince them,” said Rabindra Nath Kanhar, block development officer (BDO) Khajuripada.
Residents of Podalguda, Nuaguda and Dumuriguda alleged that they face much problems in going to the block headquarters for different works in the absence of a proper road. “Our village lies at a distance of about 8 km from the block headquarters and no four-wheeler can go to our village in the absence of a road. We face lot of difficulties in transporting our agricultural produce to urban markets and its a nightmare to shift a patient as ambulances can’t reach the village,” alleged Arjun Pangi, a resident of Dumuriguda.
According to the villagers, the road constructed a few years back has been completely damaged and their repeated pleas for a new road have fallen on deaf ears.
“With much difficulty, a four-wheeler can go up to Podalguda, about 3 km from Pottangi, but not to our village. Every election we are assured of construction of the road but it has not happened so far,” said a Nuaguda resident. “Hence, this time we have decided to boycott the panchayat election,” he added.
In Kandhamal district, the villagers of Adasipada panchayat in Khajuripada block have decided to boycott the three-tier panchayat poll to be held next month as their locality lacks mobile connectivity.
Due to the villagers’ “No Network No Vote” call, not a single nomination paper has been filed for sarpanch, samiti member and ward member posts in the past three days. The villagers, under the banner of the Adasipada Aware Citizen Forum, have also staged a protest in front of the panchayat office and requested the aspiring candidates not to file their nominations. The panchayat has 13 wards with over 3,500 people.
“Government officials from Khajuripada block on Wednesday tried to convince the villagers. A three-member official team rushed to the village to talk them. Since the model code of conduct is in force, we can’t give any assurance to the villagers on their demands, but can convince them,” said Rabindra Nath Kanhar, block development officer (BDO) Khajuripada.
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