Kendrapara: The three-tier panchayat elections are expected to be held in February next year. But poor road connectivity or lack of roads in many villages in Kendrapara district has become an issue.
In various social media platforms, they have been venting out their dissatisfaction over poor connectivity. Some have warned of boycotting the polls if roads to their villages are not made, a report said.
Meanwhile, political parties have now ventured out to broaden base and started making strategies to woo voters.
People’s representatives at the grassroots level have to face the fury of people over connectivity in coastal pockets where roads have been in bad shape due to floods and rains in August and September.
In many villages, roads are in such a mess that ambulances and fire tenders have remained inaccessible, causing people to suffer during emergency time. Pictures and videos of bad road condition and ambulances stuck in muddy roads are posted on social media.
It is said that due to pandemic restrictions, various road and infrastructure projects in the district have stuck midway.
According to information available from the Panchayatiraj department, as many as 13,573 rural roads in 249 panchayats are awaiting construction. Of them, 5225 road projects are yet to receive administrative approval while work on 3421 projects has not started despite approval.
It is said that construction of 4927 roads is at different stages. In the current year, it was learnt that new road projects have been undertaken in Marsaghai and Pattamundai areas.
Locals alleged that due to bad roads and lack of connectivity, social and economic development of areas and people have lagged behind.
Bibhuti Bhusan Rout, a member of Mahakalpara Youth Club, said panchayatiraj, works, water resources, rural developments have neglected the rural connectivity. Due to bad roads, patients and pregnant women are unable to avail of emergency medical services.
Some of them die, he lamented. Goutam Behera of Bhateni village said commuting problem has plagued the coastal pockets in Mahakalpara, Rajkanika, Aul and Rajnagar blocks.
In these areas, people face a lot of difficulties in communication due to creeks and rivers lacking bridges.
Following heavy rains and floods, scores of roads at Badakula, Batighar, Bijaynagar, Baliapal, Dasipur, Radhanagar, Koyarbanka and Guludia panchayats are in bad shape making them a cause of discontent among people.
In these areas, people warned of boycotting polls as roads have not been repaired. PD, Rajendra Kumar Panda said the issue of road connectivity has been raised at meetings.
Various departments have been asked to carry on road construction. From April, roads are being built under MGNREGS, but floods and rains have thrown a spanner into it, he pointed out.
PNN
