Kothapally at mercy of God even after 73 years of Independence
Date :01-Sep-2020
By Harjeet Singh ;
BIJAPUR,
Most villages in Bijapur do not have roads and electricity
The Centre had sanctioned Rs 6 crore for approach road in Kothapally
SITUATIONS prevailing at tribal-dominated Kothapally village in Bijapur district are making mockery of tall claims about development. While the nation has celebrated 73rd Independence Day, people residing in this village are still deprived of even basic amenities. According to the locals, not even a single district administration official is reported to have visited the village even once. Most of the villages in Bijapur district do not have roads owing to Naxal terror. Even after 70 years of independence, villages in the district lack proper roads. Because of poor infrastructure, the Health Department is unable to reach these villages. If sources are to be believed, the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 6 crore for construction of a road in Kothapally, bordering Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
The road was facilitating a link of Telangana directly with Navpari, Pujari Kanker and Kothapally from Awapalli Usoor block headquarters but after Salwa Judum, this road was closed. There are villages like Kothapally in the interior of the district, which neither have road nor supply of electricity. Because of poor infrastructure in Kothapally, the ambulance, the Mathari vehicle 108, 102 and others facilities are unable to reach the village on time. Several villages of Usur block in Bijapur are totally dependent upon Telanagana for basic facilities.
These villages include Kothapally, Bhimaram, Kasturpahad, Chinna Utlapalli Pedda Utlapalli, Malempenta, Rampuram and Pujari Kanker whereas many such villages are also in Pamed region. The distance of Kothapally to Telangana is about 12 to 15 km and the people have to pass this distance through dilapidated, muddy, slippery and rocky road. The region has recently faced the wrath of torrential rains. No doubt, the district administration did its best in extending its best support to flood-affected people, but it apparently forgot to wipe out the tears of Kothapally. Owing to torrential rains, a large portion of standing crops of farmers has ruined completely. In such circumstances, entire district administration team remained engaged day and night in restoration. Even, Collector Ritesh Agrawal dealt with these problems by visiting various inaccessible flood-affected areas.
He had instructed the top officials to solve the problems of the public immediately. MLA Vikram Mandawi also visited various areas and listened to the problems of affected people. Among these villages, Kothapally and Pamde, both located at the extreme end of the district, had also turned an island during heavy rainfall. Neither any district administration official nor a political party leader took pain to visit these villages and address mass grievances at Kothapally.
A huge loss of property has been reported in Pamed and Kothapally because of rainfall which lasted for about a fortnight. A large portion of crops have destroyed completely and the farmers are worried because of their loss. Talking to The Hitavada, Collector Ritesh Agrawal refuted allegations leveled by villagers. He claimed that authorities at Panchayat level were doing their best to help the people there. On being enquired about poor infrastructure and unavailability of road in the village, Collector said that the area was full of challenges; however, bringing about development in those areas was main objective of district administration and State Government. “The district administration is trying its fullest to make things easy and very soon all the problems in Kothapally and other places, with same issued, will be resolved”, he added.