Though there has been much hue and cry over the Bijepur by-poll in Bargarh district of late, with the BJD and BJP making all-out efforts for victory, scant attention has been given to the Bijepur block, which is reeling under a lot of problems these days.
The 163 acre Damodar pond of Bijepur town which was dug long back in 1818 has been facing the silting problem. The pond needs de-silting urgently. Besides, there is a long demand for upgrading the Bijepur block to a NAC but it remains ignored, the Youth Committee of Bijepur alleged. In 2008, there were proposals to set up a sub-resister office and a First Class Judicial Magistrate court but no step taken till date to materialize them.
The local CHC is also crippled due to lack of sufficient doctors and infrastructure. As a result, the patients of the localities are deprived of proper healthcare.
On the irrigation front also the area cuts a sorry figure. There has been a long going demand to join the two rivers, Ranja and Uttali, for irrigation but this has so far fallen on deaf ear of the authorities. The local people are also facing drinking water, electricity, road communication problems.
The Youth Committee of Bijepur led by Ashutosh Mohana meanwhile submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through the BDO Bijepur to look into the difficulties and take appropriate steps. He also threatened agitation if the State Government ignores the issues.