Kendrapara: Despite their strategic location there are problems aplenty for residents of eight villages in Batighara panchayat in this district. These villages despite being only 48 km away from the district headquarters and 10 km away from the Jagatsinghpur industrial estate lack the basic amenities that people can’t do without. There are approximately 5,000 residents living in these eight villages. Lack of electricity, drinking water facilities, and educational institutes are some of the prime problems the villagers have to face. Incidentally, Batighar and Hukitola were recognised as tourist sites by the Odisha government in 2016.
However, even then no development has happened at these two places. The non-availability of a bridge on Kharinasi River, the absence of proper roads, and the unplanned growth of forests are major obstacles to development work. The literacy rate (66.2%) is also very poor among the residents of these villages. Farming and fishing are the main sources of income for people living in this panchayat. Locals pointed out that the development of infrastructure for tourism can be a huge booster for the panchayat. They pointed out that if tourism is developed at Hukitola, Batighara, and False Point, then employment opportunities for the locals can be generated.
Overall economic development can then be achieved, they said. Other residents of the panchayat stressed the need for the protection of the environment. They pointed out that effluents from the industries in neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district are polluting river water as well as the atmosphere. They added that due to this pollution, various health issues are cropping up in the panchayat. Regularly cases of skin disease and even cancer are surfacing due to drinking polluted water.
Due to the absence of a bridge on the Kharinasi River, medical facilities for the residents of this panchayat remain a distant dream. Ambulances cannot reach the eight villages while medical camps are not organised for the people of Batighara panchayat. Overall, the entire locality appears as if it is not a part of modern India. However, now there is some hope for them as plans are afoot to build a bridge on the Kharinasi River.