Joda: The people of Kasia (B) in Bhadrasahi panchayat of Joda block in Keonjhar have been facing a lot of trouble due to the poor condition of the Kasia-Jhadagan road.
The villagers had drawn the attention of the administration, local sarpanch, Barbil tehsildar, Champua sub-collector and the Board of Revenue in Cuttack to the bad shape of the road but nothing was done, except that some funds were sanctioned under MGNREGS.
Former sarpanch Arjun Sandil said the road was built at a cost of Rs 2 lakh under MGNREGS after approval by the Palli Sabha and Gram Sabha in 2016. But it could not be completed.
Bhagabat Palei, Kuber Palei, Minthun Munda and Kunjabihari Palei who were building the two-km road said around 2,000 people use it daily. Scores of mineral-laden trucks and vehicles also ply on the road, they added.
As nothing was done for two years, the villagers decided to repair the road on their own. “We have started repairing the road by collecting funds and hiring machines,” the villagers said.
Villagers Balaram Palei, Mohan Palei, Kuber Palei, Ganesh Palei and Kunjabihari Palei had donated 50 decimal of land for expanding the road.
Bhadrasahi sarpanch Kasturi Oram said the panchayat had sent a proposal for reconstruction of the road. “Work on the road will start only after approval from the block administration,” she added.
Joda BDO Arun Kumar Malllick said the office was closed for Raja holidays. The work on the road will be undertaken after holding talks with the sarpanch, the BDO added.
Collector Ashish Thakare said if the villagers are executing the work with their own funds the road will be included in the labour intensive scheme.
PNN