Pleas ignored, Nurpur villagers themselves start building road

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, January 5

After elected representatives and departmental authorities failed to construct a road despite repeated requests, residents of Bhalkhor of ward number six of the Baranda gram panchayat in Nurpur block have taken the matter in their hands and started construction of a 300-m village road stretch from Bhalkhor to Nagni on their own.

The residents alleged that the village had been a victim of political neglect for many years. They said they faced tough time during the rainy season when the village path got inundated in the absence of a drainage system. They said it was especially a nightmare for children who had to go to the Government Primary School in the village.

Pooja Devi, a ward member of Bhalkhor, said villagers had approached the local MLA several times but to no avail. She said local social workers Narinder Sharma, Manoj, Bihari Lal and Rajat Sharma had taken the initiative and motivated other residents to build a cemented approach road on their own. “They collected funds from locals and started work on the road for which Rs 5 lakh were likely be spent,” she said.

Narinder Sharma, who had originally taken up the initiative, alleged that a delegation of villagers had approached political leaders of the area but only assurances were given to them which were never fulfilled. Finally, he decided to build the road with the the help of local residents who extended their wholehearted support in the mission, he said.

The villagers have started the construction of a retaining wall along the path. They have planned to build a cemented stretch, besides a proper drainage system to avoid water stagnation on it.

Funds collected from locals

Villagers approached the local MLA several times but to no avail. Local social workers took an initiative and motivated other residents to build a cemented approach road on their own. They collected funds from locals and started work on the road for which Rs5 lakh is likely to be spent. — Pooja Devi, resident, Bhalkhor

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