Korba/Katghora, 20 September (HS). Villagers from about 9 Gram Panchayats of Pondi Uprora development block blocked the Katghora to Pendra Road State Highway near Binjhra on Friday. Due to the blockade, a large number of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the road. Bus passengers in the queue had to face a lot of problems. During this, the police administration and administrative officials were present on the spot. The Tehsildar of Pondi Uprora gave 15 days' time to the villagers in writing and said that the current problems would be resolved soon. Despite that, the villagers, angry with the absence of the SDM, continued to sit on the blockade.
The villages of Binjhra, Trikuti, Malda, Kuteshar Nagoi, Singhiya, Korbi, Dongartarai, Bhawar of Pondi Uprora development block had earlier informed the Pondi Uprora sub-divisional officer about their problems by giving a memorandum in which they had given a warning of a fierce agitation and road blockade. In the meeting held in the SDM office on Wednesday, the villagers and the administration could not reach an agreement on their demands, due to which a large number of villagers blocked the Binjhra state highway today. Due to the blockade, the road from Katghora to Pendra was completely blocked and a long queue of vehicles was formed.
After worshipping the photo of Collector Ajit Basant, he said that this is our God, he will listen to our plea
A unique scene was suddenly seen in the protest being held in Binjhra, where Pando and Birhor rural women placed a picture of Korba Collector Ajit Basant and started worshipping him and started pleading in front of his picture to fulfill the above demands. While praying, the villagers said that the Collector is our God and only he can solve our problems.
The villagers said that Trikuti village is still deprived of basic facilities, the road leading to the main road is in a very bad condition, people bring the patients to the main road on cots or in kavar. The problem of electricity persists in the village almost everyday. And the villagers have demanded a new building for the middle school here, but till date the administration has not paid any attention to it. Apart from this, there are various problems in many other villages for which the villagers staged a dharna.
People staged this protest with a total of five demands and through this they opened the eyes of the railway management as well as the state government. People allege that the land of hundreds of people in this area has come under the grip of the railway corridor. This land is for their personal use and problems have arisen due to acquisition. Even after a long time, compensation for this has not been received.
The administration asked for 15 days time
The Podi Uprora Tehsildar Vinay Devangan, who was present on the spot, said that the above demands of the villagers will be fulfilled within 15 days. The Tehsildar assured the villagers that the gravelling system will be improved for the road. The asphalting will also be done after a few days. The demand of the villagers who are facing the problem of electricity will be fulfilled. It was said that the dilapidated condition of the road being built by the railway for the construction of the underbridge will be repaired. In this case, the villagers said that if the above demands are not fulfilled, they will protest on a bigger scale on 15 October. On this occasion, Katghora SDOP Pankaj Thakur, Pondi Uprora Tehsildar Vinay Devangan, Katghora police station in-charge Dharmanarayan Tiwari along with a large number of police forces were present.