Rayagada: They would no more demand for bridge, as their parents had helped them crossing river. Now they are helping their kids learn the same and custom will continue, said Pujaribambu villagers.
The residents of Pujaribambu village under Baisingi gram panchayt in Rayagada block of the district, including Utara Mandangi, Gajendra Bidika, Abhi Bidika, Kamaraju Bidika and Gobinda Bidika, Thursday visited the block office to demand for a bridge over river Nagabali. However, the villagers returned left empty handed, following which they have decided not to demand for a bridge any more.
More than 300 persons of around 45 families reside at Pujaribambu and Jagaguda villages. Connectivity has been a great problem for these villagers as there is no road to the village.
The villagers have to cover a distance of 16km of undulating roads to reach the district headquarters and other government offices, including the block office. On the way, they have to cross the river Nagabali.
However, the distance could be minimised by constructing a bridge over the river could be made. Keeping this in view, the villagers had requested the administration and the local politicians, but no one had paid attention to their pleas.
The villagers, who basically depend on farming and daily labour to earn their livelihood, have to cross the river Nagabali near Beheraguda village to reach their farmlands and work sites. The problem becomes double as the village becomes a cutout area during the rainy seasons.
They also have to cross the river to reach hospital and to bring the subsidised rice and other items from the district headquarters.
Due to lack of a proper motorable road, the village, inhabited mostly by tribals, is eluded of communication, education facilities, health, drinking water and anganwadi centre.
On the other hand, the Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh had inaugurated various projects in the district last month. During his visit Arukh had said that the government is emphasising on the development of the district. As a result, the villagers, including those residing in Pujaribambu, have threatened to migrate to neighboring Andhra Pradesh as the Odisha government is neglecting them.
PNN