Amid tall claims of all-round development in Odisha by the BJD-led government, there are still many villages that lack basic amenities like motorable roads, safe drinking water, sanitation, housing, electrification, proper drainage system, connectivity, healthcare facilities, schools, playgrounds and many more.
Development remains a far cry for the residents of Balinkia village under Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district, who have been deprived of basic facilities due to alleged negligence by the local administration and elected representatives.
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The villagers are of the opinion that the region was electrified few years back. But for some reason, the power supply was cut off for a couple of years and it is yet to be restored.
“We are using hand-made lamps during night. Electricity supply was provided to the village some years back but it was later cut off. Though we repeatedly complained before the power department regarding the issue, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. We live in fear of wild animals after dawn,” said a villager of Balinkia.
“There is no proper road to the village. Patients and pregnant women are often carried on cot to the hospital. The villagers do not have drinking water facilities as well,” alleged another villager.
Adding to their woes, standing paddy crops in several hectares of agricultural land in the Derabish block of Kendrapara district have remained submerged in waist-deep water for the last few days due to poor drainage system in the region.
The farmers of Kurujanga, Ambura, Mahespur alias Sankarpur, Mantripada and Nuagan under Derabish block have alleged that they have been facing the problem since last three years.
They further alleged that though the matter was taken up with the concerned local authorities, no steps have been adopted yet to resolve the drainage issues in the area.
Meanwhile, the local Tehsildar said that he is aware of the water logging issue in the area caused due to the lack of a proper drainage system.
“The drainage routes were blocked by the fishing nets and they are gradually being cleared. The excess water will be drained out soon. Those farmers who have suffered crop losses due to waterlogging will be compensated for which a team has been engaged to assess the situation. We will discuss with the irrigation department to come out with a permanent solution to the problem,” assured Sambit Satapathy, Derabish Tehsildar.