The road connecting the OT Road with Meghadamburu has been closed by a group of local villagers since April 27 alleging that the dilapidated road had become unsafe for plying of vehicles. Although two months have passed, surprisingly, neither the Remuna tehsildar nor the Sadar IIC has taken any initiative to remove the picketing.
As a result, the residents of the area are facing a tough time. The only movement they are making is through side space with two wheelers and bicycles only. The agitators claimed that the road’s condition went miserable due to unrestricted heavy vehicle plying. They opined that the road should be repaired with contributions of a school which is located in the area, vehicles which carry construction materials and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) which has a residential complex in the area.
A villager picketing there said, “The road is mainly used by a prominent school, Modern Public school. Scores of buses of the school ply on the road daily, yet the management of the school was not contributing for the repair and maintenance of the road. On the other hand, the trucks and tractors carrying building materials are also not prepared to pay for the renovation of the road. Besides, the IOC should also contribute for the road.”
District Collector Sanatan Mallick said, “The road picketing is illegal. The road has been handed over to the RD Department and an estimate has been sought. The work would begin as soon as the fund comes.” In the meantime, a civil society body has filed a petition in a local court mentioning the picketing and inconveniences faced by them and urging the court for a direction to the administration to lift the blockade.