Hundreds of villagers of Dhanpur Patti, Rudraprayag district protested at district headquarters in support of their demands particularly the repair of Ratholi-Jasoli motor road, resolving shortage of teachers in schools, proper medical facility and potable water supply on Tuesday. The protesters also blocked the national highway for nearly two hours. The protesters withdrew after the sub divisional magistrate and department officials assured that their demands would be resolved in a month.
The residents of various villages in Dhanpur Patti gathered in Rudraprayag and staged a demonstration against the government. They also blocked traffic on the highways to Badrinath and Kedarnath for nearly two hours and withdrew only after receiving assurance from SDM CS Chauhan and PWD officials. The angry villagers accused the State Government of apathy towards problems in the area. Despite the announcement of the Chief Minister, the Ratholi-Jasoli motor road has not been widened. The people continue to face accident risk on this road which is in a bad state. Even the sanctioned roads have not been constructed in the region while government schools are functioning without teachers and few school buildings are damaged posing risk to the students and staff.
The people of the area lack easy access to proper medical facility and have to travel far for it. The people are facing various problems in this area like lack of regular potable water supply, power supply and apathy of the authorities. The villagers warned that they would be forced to boycott the elections if their demands are not met. District Magistrate Rudraprayag Raghav langar said that work on a 5 km stretch of Ratholi-Jasoli road had been completed. PWD has sent the cost estimation for widening the 11.5 km stretch of this road for which sanction is awaited. He said that efforts will be undertaken to resolve the problems being faced by residents of Dhanpur Patti.