“You cannot fulfill promises? We’ve better ways to make you realize your mistake” – say villagers of Bhagbatipada in Khordha district. Irate over non-completion of road work, the villagers recently forced two employees of the State Irrigation department to walk-and-wade through a muddy road.
As per reports, following incessant rainfall for 2-3 days, the SDO and Junior Engineer of the department visited the village to assess the flood situation, however, they were unaware they would have to face the wrath of the locals.
A pucca motorable road was reportedly assured to the villagers long back, but no progress was made. And the recent torrential downpour ensured even walking on foot is difficult, forget driving a vehicle in the stretch.
The locals who were already grappling with hellish condition, said, they got a chance to offer a reality check to the government officials. Forcing the two officials to wade through the muddy patches, the villagers made them have a feel of their pain which they experience every day. Locals reportedly alleged that commuting on the road has been difficult owing to construction of a concrete wall on the canal site by the Irrigation department. The files of assurances are allegedly gathering dust.
In response, the Irrigation department officials said that the responsibility of road construction in the marshy stretch lies with the local block-level officials. "We were on flood-related duty and had visited the place to assess the flood situation.The connecting road had become muddy after the rainfall. That road doesn’t come under our purview, that’s a block road, and responsibility of work lies with the block-level officials. Whatever is possible on our part, we will do. But the way the villagers forced us to wade through the mud, it wasn’t in good taste. We will see what can be done officially,” said Akshaya Kumar Behera, SDO of the Irrigation Department.
The concerned road which connects Golabai-Kanas road and is said to be the lifeline of Bhagbatipada residents cries for government attention.
(Video Credits: Editor - Surendra Pradhan, Producer - Diptyranjita Patra)