Maoist-affected areas: People threaten to boycott poll

The residents of Maoist-affected villages of Koodlu Megadde and Vanajaru in Nadpalu of Hebri taluk have decided to boycott the election due to lack of development works, including roads.

The residents said, “None of the vehicles reach our areas even in case of emergency due to the pathetic condition of the road. We will not exercise our franchise unless road is constructed to connect our villages.” The residents have blamed the apathy of officials and elected representatives for not taking up any development work in the villages.

Resident Gulkadu Bhaskar Shetty said, “The 13-km road was laid 20 years ago. Now, the road is in deplorable condition as the surface of the road has completely peeled off.”

The pothole ridden road connects over 100 houses. The forest department has been posing hurdles to the construction of the road, he alleged.

Ajjoli Ramesh Shetty said, “The government school at Megadde was closed down. Now, the children have to travel to 20 kms to go to school. There is no bus facility to the villages.”

“Neither gram panchayat or zilla panchayat representatives have visited us so far. In spite of submitting memorandum to officials, no measures have been taken to provide us with basic facilities,” residents said.