They have been leading a cursed life since the inception of human habitation amid an island. Though 69 years have passed since independence, but still these people are yet to get basic amenities, thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the district administration and political leaders.
The river locked villagers of Dakhinidiha, Ekamania, Nalapahi under Kuladiha panchayat under Aul block have failed to get basic amenities like communication, drinking water, education and health. It seems as if they are treated as outsiders and the district administration and the local people’s representatives are cold about their woes.
Over 1,000 people have been staying in the trio villages. The villages are surrounded by crocodile infested rivers. On one side, there is the Brahmani river whereas on the other the Kharasrota river flows.
The major problem of the villagers is they have been confronting serious communication problem. The only option is ferrying rivers by boat. But it grows hazardous during the low tide period. The villagers generally have to wade nearly 200 meters through knee deep water on the Brahmani river from Keredagada ferry ghat in Rajnagar and later get boat, but the boat remains stranded for four to five hours in mid of the river everyday due to less water. During this period, if a person falls sick or suffers from labour pain, then the villagers take the patient with the help of boat and later, in a basket to the mainland for admitting in the hospital, alleged Balaram Mallick of Dakhinidiha. There are instances of pregnant women delivering in the mid of river, Mallick added.
The other problems are lack of proper drinking water, health service and education. Most of the tube wells in the river-locked villages lie dysfunctional, informed Manjulata Pradhan, a resident of Ekamania.
The villages of Dakhinidiha and Ekamania lack pucca road. “Though several times we have urged the district Collector, BDO of Kendrapada , local MlA and the MP to construct a bridge over Brahmani river to provide communication facilities , but in vain. During the election time, most of the leaders come and promise us a bridge but later they tend to forget it,” lamented Sarat Kumar Nayak, a resident of Nalapahi.
When contacted, Aul MlA Debendra Sharma, however, stated that plans are afoot to construct a bridge at Brahmani river for the trio villages. The RD department earlier invited tender for this purpose. A Delhi-based company has been awarded the contract work of constructing the bridge and the work would start by January, he said.