R Udayagiri: Both the Odisha and central governments have a number of schemes to boost connectivity though roads and bridges in remote areas. However, it seems that all efforts have failed to connect villages like Rajkahama in the Garadama panchayat, 70km from Mohana block in Gajapati district. During the monsoons, the life of people in Rajkhama remains confined to the village only as they fail to go out as rivers and creeks are in full flow.
In case emergency, people of seven villages have no way but to cross Gadapur river by clutching a wire they have tied to trees on both the banks of the river. Absence of a bridge and roads across a river is their major problem, they lamented.
A total of 35 families live at Rajkhma village. The other villages that have been suffering from commuting woes are Betaganda, Kuruma, Kutipadar, Gurupanga and Panisadhai. Most of these villages lack even the basic facilities and clean and hygienic drinking water remains a dream for them.
Locals say, a road had been laid till the Rajkhma village after repeated complaints from its resident. However, the road was washed away by recent floods. The villagers have been demanding for the construction of a bridge on the river for years. However, all their appeals seem to be falling on deaf ears as the authorities have not paid heed to their plight.
The Rural Development department has built some culverts for smooth passages, but they are in equally bad shape.
Thousands of villagers have to risk their lives while crossing the river to go to work or during medical emergencies.
“We have to wade through waist-deep water to cross the river which does not have a bridge over it for the commuters,” they said. “Whenever a pregnant woman or patent needs to be hospitalised, the person is forced to cross the river clinging on to the rope,” they added.
Locals say, they have urged the local leaders, the administration and the even ministers about the need for bridge, but no step has been taken till date. They said the situation is precarious for children to cross the river during the monsoons. So they stay away from schools.
Many people have expressed their displeasure over the lack of development in the region. They said, they would boycott the coming panchayat elections unless their demands are fulfilled.
