Lanjigarh: Residents of far-flung Niali village under Champadeipur panchayat of this block in Kalahandi district are forced to wade through waist-deep water to commute from and to their village everyday in absence of a bridge. The journey poses greater threat for children and elderly.
In order to reach the block and panchayat office, or to purchase their daily needs the locals have to wade through the creek that separates the village from the rest of the world.
With a population of over 400 people, the village has 150 families. The village, situated 15km from the block headquarters, lacks basic amenities like electricity, school and proper drinking water facility.
The village is on the banks of river Bansadhara and the river separates the village from 10 panchayats and the block office. In absence of a bridge over the river, the villager are forced to swim across in order to go anywhere out of the village.
The elderly suffer the most, as they have to go to the panchayat orthe block office to avail ration and pensions. Similarly, children from the village have to cross the river everyday to reach their school. The situation worsens during rainy season. The students are forced to remain absent from their schools for long periods, while the elderly persons are deprived of rations and pensions as they are not able to cross the river due to heavy tide.
Irate locals had earlier called to boycott voting in the recently concluded panchayat elections. However, the local MLA pacified them by promising a bridge over the river ‘soon’. That ‘soon’, however, has still not come.
The villagers now have decided to boycott voting in any elections till such time a bridge is constructed over the river.
When contacted, Lanjigarh MLA Balabhadra Majhi said that all remote villages are being provided with roads and bridges under PMGSY and the villages in question will also get a bridge over the river ‘soon.’ PNN
