Sonepur: Road connectivity, drinking water facilities and other amenities like health and education are some of the promises, which the politicians make ahead of elections. However, Khaliapali village under Binika block of Sonepur district is a glaring example of how these assurances are only restricted to words.
Nevertheless, this time, the villagers of Khaliapali have collectively decided to boycott polls unless a pucca road is built to connect the hamlet to other parts of the district.
A resident of Khaliapali, Bidyadhar Behera alleged, “As soon as the elections approach, political leaders, minsters, BDO flock the village and assure us a road, but soon after polls, no one remembers any of the promises. But this time, we have pledged to boycott polls, unless a road is built in our village.”
“Without an accessible to road, we have to often carry patients on cots to hospitals. If a road is not built at the earliest, we are not going to cast our votes," threatened another local, Hiralal Sahu.
The villagers further alleged that the maintenance work on the route has not been taken up since a long time. However, when asked about the alleged lapses, the officials of the district administration feigned ignorance.
Assistant Executive Engineer of S. Rampur, Prashant Kumar Patel said, “We are not aware about the condition of the road. As we have received the complaint now, the higher officials will be contacted and steps will be taken.”