Telkoi: Even as weathermen have predicted early entry of monsoon in the state, people of 10 villages under tribal-dominated Telkoi block in Keonjhar district are growing worried about the approaching difficulties that they will face after being cuff from the rest of the world for the entire rainy season.
Locals said thousands of people in 10 panchayats will go through difficulties due to the absence of a bridge across Ramiala river. The bridge has been a long pending demand for the tribal villages.
“All the 10 villages under Purujoda and Kaliahata panchayats will be completely detached from other parts of the district when the river will be in spate for days together with water all around. About 5000 people will be confined to their homes in the rainy season,” they rued.
The locals have been repeatedly demanding a bridge across the river at any place between Kumbharsahi to Brahmanikansa since 2005, but no step is being taken.
Had the bridge been built, they would not have to face such commuting woes for years, they rued. “Sarpanchs and other people’s representatives have taken up the issue at the administration and two departments several times in the past, but it yielded no results,” they said.
Usually in rainy season, people in Brahmanikansa, Gudikansa, Tarangapal, Patakalipur, Tapelei, Jamanalia, Ramchandrapur, Gudinarada and Juangasahi will not be able to venture out their villages to go to the block headquarters.
Parameswar Munda, sarpanch of Purujoda, said, “If a bridge is set up linking Kumbarasahi to Brahmanikansa, it will ease the commuting problem of the people in all the 10 villages in the rainy season. But the administration has been neglecting the issue.”
Bidyadhar Roula, former zilla parishad member, said, “The rural development department and PW department for bridge construction were urged to pay heed to their plight, but nothing happens.” PNN