Challenging a Maoist’s decree to stop ferrying services in Balimela reservoir, the lone communication link for people in the cut-off areas to come to the mainland, a motor boat taking 18 people from cut-off area arrived at the Chitrakonda ghat on Saturday, four days after boats provided by the Irrigation department had stopped operating in the area.
When the health condition of three patients, including two children and a pregnant woman from Khajiriguda in the cut-off area started deteriorating, a group of people of the area brought them to a medical in Chitrakonda in a motor boat defying the Maoists’ threat. According to a local in the cut-off area, the villagers were facing many problems due to sudden stoppage of launch service in the area which was their lone communication link. The villagers failed to get kerosene, salt and ration in the area, he said, adding that many pregnant women were facing health complicacy due to lack of medical facilities in their villages.
Chitrakonda MlA Mamata Madhi said the State Government should take appropriate steps after discussing with the peoples’ representatives to sort out the problem. She added that the Chief Minister should intervene to solve the crisis in the cut off area in view of the halt in the ferrying services as the locals have been isolated for several days and are not able to get their basic requirements. Similarly, Malkangiri MlA Mukund Sodhi urged the Chief Minister to take steps for solving the impasse prevailing in the interior parts as around 125 villagers are living without communication facilities for last four days.