The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned nine roads and eight logistic support bridges under its road connectivity project for the left-wing-extremism-affected areas of Palamu and Garhwa districts, Palamu MP V D Ram said on Sunday.
He said among the nine roads, two are in the Garhwa district while seven in Palamu.
All eight logistic support bridges are in Palamu district over its rivers namely SathI, Sapi, Satbahini and Pathalbaja, said the MP.
Sources said the MP had to work hard for these roads and logistic support bridges here.
These roads and logistic support bridges are sanctioned by the MHA only when the respective district SPs recommend for it on its strategic value in fight against the extremism. The MP, who was himself DGP Jharkhand before coming into politics after retirement, knows how difficult it is to build roads and logistic support bridges in equally difficult and inaccessible areas where rebels call the shots.
VD Ram, who held a press conference over these roads and logistic support bridges on Saturday, looked half at ease when newsmen asked him that roads and logistic support bridges have 'forest issues' and thus there is no certainty as to when these roads and bridges will be built and ready.
Two roads under PM Gram Sadak Yojna of the year 2018 -19 under the Paton block hang in balance as the forest department has raised red banners over the land where these two roads are to be built. The MP said that the forest department does raise the issue of the forest land where except for clearance and no objection by this department nothing can be done.
These two roads under the Paton block are Tilaiya and Kaswakhara where mitti morrum work up-to just one kilometer has been done when the forest department came rushing to stop it claiming land as forest land through which these two roads are to pass.