Baliguda/Phulbani: Development works in Maoist-hit blocks of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district are lagging behind owing to threat and violence by the ultras. These are big challenges to the progress of the district.
Road construction and expansion works in Tumudibandha and Khajuripada blocks have come to a standstill for the last one year, according to a report. Contractors are leaving road projects mid-way due to Maoist threats.
Projects worth Rs 50 crore of the rural development department and the Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have been stalled by the Maoists, the report said. People have to go through many problems due to lack of roads.
Basic facilities like bus connectivity, drinking water and education elude remote villages in Maoist-infested areas due to lack of concrete roads.
In Tumudibandh and Daringbadi blocks, many villages are still deprived of motorable roads. Gumudimaha village, which was in international news after a squad of the Special Operation Group (SOG) gunned down five tribals, including an 11-month-old, during an anti-Maoist operation, July 8, 2016, still lacks a proper road.
Many political leaders, both from the Centre and the state, arrived in the village and made a lot of promises, but to no avail. Following the incident, the state government promised aid for the affected families and development of the village.
The rural development department constructed an 11-km-long approach road from Kurtamagarh to Gumudimaha at a cost of Rs 2.38 crore. This road, however, is of no use for the villagers as it is still a kutcha one. Concrete laying on the road was stopped in 2017 after Maoists set construction equipment afire.
Maoists killed a security guard and torched five vehicles used in road construction work at Patiamba in Sudrukumpa under Khajuripada block bringing construction work to a halt.
Moreover, work on the Jharipani-Belghar road in Tumudibandha block has been stopped for the last one month after ultras set vehicles at a worksite afire. Similarly, the Jharipani-Rayagada road project was halted mid-way following threats from Maoists to the supervisor of the construction company.
Two divisions of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Kalahandi- Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) and Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali (BGN), are active in the district. While KKBN cadres are active in Phulbani sub-division, BGN division is active in Balliguda sub-division. Government officials, contractors and engineers rarely visit the road construction sites due to the Maoist threat. At some places, contractors comply with Maoist demands to be able to carry on with the work.
This has been a cause of worry for the tribal inhabitants who demanded the government to link security strategies with progressive works.
PNN
