Slush-filled road deprives villagers of several facilities

The road leading to Pyatehithlu Girijana village at Anajooru in the taluk has turned slushy, leaving the tribals at the village in the lurch.

Anajooru is situated two and a half kilometres away from Belur road. There are 25 tribal families residing at Pyatehithlu Girijana village. More than eight children are pursuing their studies at the Government Lower Primary School and are forced to walk on the slush-filled 2.5-km road to reach the school.

The women in the village said, “Look at the legs and feet of the children. Even after wearing sandals, they develop rashes on their legs because of walking on the slushy road.”

Further, digging of the stretch has turned into a nightmare for the residents of the village as the soil has turned slushy following the downpour over the past few days. As no vehicle is ready to enter the village, the people struggle to transport patients to hospital in case of emergency.

Old tale

The tribals, who had been evicted from the Thathkola reserve forest in 2004, were rehabilitated at Pyatehithlu Girijana village. Even after 13 years, the authorities have failed to construct a proper road leading to the village. Of the 2.5-km stretch till Belur road, the authorities had sanctioned concreting 150 metres. The contractor had collected gravel and sand dust for the road but the work is yet to begin.

“We had demanded the authorities during the Janasamparka sabhe organised by the police to construct a road. We had even met the deputy commissioner in the past, urging laying a road to the village,” said the villagers.

Adivasi Hitharakshana Samithi secretary Vijendra said that the villagers are mulling over organising an indefinite stir demanding road.