Demands for road connectivity and electricity supply made by residents of remote Malliamdurgam hamlet on Kadambur hills are genuine, but the hitch is in fulfilling them.
Road
One has to traverse through seven to eight kilometres of dense forest from Kadambur to reach the hamlet, and the Forest Department is not apparently inclined to give its nod for laying of a pucca road. The department apprehends risks to wildlife due to erection of towers and power lines inside the forest area.
Nevertheless, residents of the hamlet had a cause for optimism on Sunday, after interacting with the Sub-Collector of Gobichettipalayam Krishnan Unni, who trekked the entire distance in a span of a little over three hours.
Mr. Unni sat with the villagers for hours at a stretch and got to know of the travails they have been facing without power supply and road connectivity since Independence.
Electricity
While the official machinery is not able to provide a strong commitment about creating a road connectivity, it is pursuing a proposal for providing electricity supply in right earnest, it is learnt.
“We are having discussions with the Forest Department with regard to the two issues. Execution of a proposal for providing electricity to the residents of the hamlet in a time-bound manner is on the anvil,” Mr. Unni said.
Upgrade school
There is a school in the hamlet up to level VIII, and beyond that the students have to walk up to Kadambur for high and higher secondary education. The villagers are stated to have asked for upgrade of the school as well. Though the residents have been living in frustration down generations, they could, for once, shed pessimism since an official of superior cadre had visited and interacted with them for the first time with a serious sense of purpose, according to representatives of tribal welfare organisations.
