Photo: OTV
Remote villages in Koraput wallow in neglect
As many as three remote villages- Sabun, Uparasabun and Lamandur villages located along the Jalaput reservoir in the Koraput district have been wallowing in severe neglect due to an apathetic attitude by the State government.
Following a boat journey of 20 minutes through water in Jalaput reservoir, one could reach Sabun village under Nandapur block in the district. The picturesque village is surrounded by the scenic beauty of lush green forests and hills.
The villagers mainly depend on cultivation and forest produce to earn their livelihood. However, they have been severely affected due to a lack of developmental activities in their area.
A dinghy boat is the only medium of communication to the village from the mainland as the motor boat provided by the district administration to them has been lying defunct for a long time. The village doesn’t have a proper road, school and hospital facilities. Even, the villagers don’t have an electricity supply in their area. In case of any health issues, ASHA worker Brunda Khali is their only hope. In case of any urgency, the patients have to be ferried on a boat. The children also go to their school on a boat.
“We don’t have school, hospital and road facilities in our village. We don’t also have an electricity connection in our area as a result we are suffering a lot,” said Brunda, a resident of Sabun village.
“Though we have been requesting the public representatives to undertake developmental activities in our area umpteen times, it has been falling on deaf ears,” said Raghunath Sisa, another resident of the village.
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Similar is the situation at Uparasabun and Lamandur villages. After the Jalaput reservoir became operational in 1955, the displaced villages with around 300 people are lagging in neglect sans any kind of developmental activities. Though electricity is being produced in the reservoir, the three villages don’t have any electricity connection. The solar lights set up in the villages have been lying defunct for a long period.
“Our village is located amid the reservoir. We are struggling a lot to earn our living. We are dependent upon a single boat for communication,” rued Somnath Khara, a resident of Lamandur village.
“The government is not paying any attention to the ordeal of the residents of these three villages despite several requests,” said Rajkishore Lendru, Sarpanch of Bilaput Gram Panchayat.
Though the villagers have been suffering due to a lack of developmental activities, Nandapur BDO Durgaprasad Behera is of the opinion that necessary steps are being taken to solve all the problems of the villages.
“As the three villages have been surrounded by water, we will provide all kinds of facilities to the villagers. We will also ensure all basis facilities are available to them,” said Behera.
