A proper tar road is still a dream for tribal people in several hamlets in the State. They have to walk 5-10 km to reach their hamlets located deep inside the forest.
In case of medical emergency, the patients have to be carried manually up to the main road to make use of the ambulance facility.
In fact, lack of proper roads was one of the reasons that had led to the death of 16 persons at Chaparai hamlet in Rampachodavaram mandal of East Godavari district recently. Keeping this in view, the State government plans to lay more than 2,100-km road in the tribal habitations at an estimated cost of ₹540 crore. The roads will help the tribal people overcome their hardships and challenges, say officials.
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The government is expediting the process to lay roads in the tribal hamlets of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and East and West Godavari districts. The roads will be laid by the Panchayat Raj and Tribal Welfare departments.
Administrative sanction
Of the 982 works identified, the government has given administrative sanction for 898 works at an estimated cost of ₹446 crore, sources say.
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When contacted, Principal Secretary (Tribal Welfare) R.P. Sisodia said the plan was to provide road access to about 2,500 hamlets. The works were being taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). “In all, 335 works, which translated into a road network of 197 km, are already under progress,” he said.
The road network includes 208 km in Srikakulam; 296 km in Vizianagaram; 295 km in Visakhapatnam; 562 km in East Godavari and 136 km in West Godavari districts.
Challenging task
Complex issues are involved in the laying of roads in the tribal hamlets.
The only option is to cut a road through the forest land. The way to the hamlets will usually be a track of stones and loose soil intersected by water streams.
The water streams are a cause for concern during the monsoons. Laying of roads in such conditions is a challenging task.
‘Clearance needed’
“The forest department has to give permission for developing the road. A road could not be laid to Chaparai for want of Forest Department’s permission,” said an official, who did not want to be named.