Villagers protest delay in construction of road

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 9

Residents of Junga and Tarakot villages, irked at the non-fulfillment of their demand of a road to their village, continued with their hunger strike at the Uttarkashi DM’s office for the second day today.

Talks initiated by the district administration with Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) officials failed to pacify the villagers, who were adamant on continuing the strike until their demand was met.

Rukum Singh Rawat and Hari Panwar from Tarakot village said they wanted the construction work to begin on the proposed Junga-Tarakot and Dharasu-Tarakot road. They have been agitating for the issue from the past several months but when the officials did not show any inclination towards their justified demands, they were forced to sit on a hunger strike as a mark of protest, they rued.

Rukum Singh said they would continue their hunger strike until their demands were met. Uttarkashi ADM PL Shah, along with PMGSY Executive Engineer Rajkumar and officials of the Forest Department reached the dharna site and tried to pacify the protesters.

PWD assistant engineer Manmohan Singh informed the villagers that the work on the road would begin as soon as the department received forest clearance. Rajkumar sought time until December 25 to streamline the project but the villagers were adamant and said they would not budge an inch until the work did not begin.

Villagers said the officials had misled them in the name of paper work earlier and they would not lift the dharna until their demands were met. Rajendar Rangad, Bachan Lal and others were present on the occasion.