Three tribal settlements in the Talavadi Hills, within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Tamil Nadu, are set to receive tar-topped roads at a total cost of ₹2.41 crore. The settlements — Kalithimbam, Mavanatham, and Ramanarai — comprise 75, 90, and 37 families, respectively, and are currently accessible only via mud roads.
The last time single-layer water-bound macadam (WBM) roads were laid in these hamlets was in 2011-12. Despite efforts to re-lay the roads in 2022, the project did not materialise. The existing roads have suffered extensive damage due to rains, prompting long-standing demands from residents for motorable roads.
On Wednesday, District Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, after inspecting the damaged road at Kalithimbam and holding discussions with officials, announced that 2 km of roads would be laid in Kalithimbam at a cost of ₹1.07 crore, and 1.1 km of roads would be laid in Ramanarai at a cost of ₹51.45 lakh. The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department will lay the road to Mavanatham at a cost of ₹81.86 lakh.
The Collector also inspected the Government Tribal Residential Middle School at Bejalatti and interacted with students. Additionally, he reviewed the anganwadi centres at Kalithimbam and Mavanatham and inspected the construction of new houses.
Talavadi Block Development Officers Agneeshwaran, Guganathan, Talavadi Tahsildar Subramani, and other concerned officials were present during the inspection.
Published - September 04, 2024 04:08 pm IST
