At last, tribals get a road to development

Expressbuzz, Nov 9, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: For tribal inhabitants of villages under Langigarh block, a partially-constructed road has come as a blessing.


The 18-km road, constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), connects Musanal under Lanjigarh block to Bhawanipatna through Bhatangpadar.

Sans road connectivity, tribals of Kanarla, Jamchuan, Khaksi, Juba, Sulia, Kotorghati, Terenam Ghati, Musanal, Singhpadar and Lanji remained cut off from the mainstream for many years.

The tribals depend on Bhawanipatna for selling their minor forest produce at the weekly haats.

Earlier, it took them more than a day to reach Bhawanipatna but after the road was constructed, it just takes them a few hours to reach the town.

Besides, the road has opened up tourism opportunities in the region as these villages are replete with natural scenery.

However, work on the road is yet to be completed.

The construction work began in 2005-06 fiscal and so far, black-topping of 11 km of the total 18 km stretch has been done. Construction of road drains and guard walls throughout the road stretch could not be done earlier as the cost exceeded the estimated value. Thus, in the absence of drains, there is considerable erosion of the road due to rains.

And without guard walls, vehicular movement is unsafe.

Sources said the work on the incomplete portion of the road is in progress and a fresh tender which includes black topping of the rest 7 km stretch along with renovation of 10 km of road up to Bhawanipatna, has been floated.

Provision has also been made for construction of drains and guard walls along the road.