Bhadrak: With Assembly elections underway, candidates are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters. However, two villages in Bhadrak Assembly constituency, Jagganathpur and Chhakabentala of Bhadrak block, have decided to boycott voting citing poor condition of a road.
The around 2,000 residents of these two villages have threatened to boycott polls if the main road connecting their villages to the outside world is not repaired.
The two villages are situated near the banks of the Salandi Canal, and are only nine km away from Bhadrak district headquarters.
The canal road is the main road link between the two villages. But the contractor who had hired to lay the road abandoned work halfway. The bridge on the canal was demolished by the contractor. With no other options the villagers built a temporary bamboo bridge over the canal.
The villagers said they face a lot of difficulties, but the road problem is the most serious as it is in a very bad shape. Many accidents have also occurred on this road. A man of this village, Bulu Jena, lost control over his bike and both his hands were seriously injured.
The condition of the road turns worse during rains. Students face a lot of problems in going to schools and colleges.
Around 5,000 residents of Padhisahi, Jenasahi and Gahanasahi villages also depend on this road. Ambulances can’t use this road, and patients are facing problems in going to Bhadrak Headquarters Hospital.
The villagers have been complaining about this to the administration for years, but no one listened to them.
The angry villagers said many leaders are coming to their villages for campaigning, but no one does anything. The villagers have now decided that they will vote only if a proper road is laid to their village.
PNN
