Badasahi: Even as electioneering is gradually peaking up, people in some areas of Mayurbhanj district are unhappy with the lack of development and are hell-bent on boycotting the forthcoming panchayat polls.
A bridge project across river Gangahar, a long pending demand of the people of Managobindapur panchayat under Badasahi block, is a major poll issue. The residents have long been suffering from commuting woes and have this time decided to refrain from voting unless a bridge is set up across the river at Dumuria.
Upset over the issue, none has filed nominations in ward no-2 of the panchayat for the upcoming elections.
“For the last 22 years, we have been getting assurances from political leaders and the authorities that a bridge will be constructed across the river, but nothing has been done. We convened a meeting and decided on the policy of ‘no bridge, no voting’,” the villagers said.
According to reports, inhabitants of over 10 villages in the area have to go to Balasore and Remuna bazaar on a daily basis. But the river has been a major hurdle in their communication.
“A bamboo bridge at Dumuria is our only alternative. In 1996, the government had granted funds for a bridge. Its construction had been undertaken, but people opposed it due to substandard work. The Vigilance department had registered a case against the then block development officer, the assistant engineer and the junior engineer, leading to the project being abandoned,” the locals said.
The government again laid the foundation stone for the bridge, but its work remained confined to a plaque.
“In the rainy season, our woes get compounded when the river is in spate,” the villagers added.
With only a few days left for the panchayat elections, not even a single leader has dared to venture into the village, as the people are in a bad mood, it was learnt.
“As elections come closer, a host of leaders throng the village with a lot of promises. But nothing has been done to fulfill the promise of a bridge. We have to depend on this rickety bridge throughout the year,” said Sadhucharan Maharana, a villager.
“Vegetable growers face a lot of difficulty in transporting their crops across the river,” said local farmer Kamalakant Mohanty.
“We fear to tread on the bamboo bridge while going to school,” said Sasmita Mohanty, a student of class-VIII.
BDO Somnath Pradhan said he has no report about the poll boycott. “As election code of conduct is in force, no work can be done. I will go with rural development engineer to hold talks with villagers,” he added. PNN
