Their repeated efforts to relay the road by taking up the issue proved futile
A view of the battered road in Muduthurai village near Coimbatore. (Photo: DC)
Coimbatore: In a desperate attempt to get their 25-year-old battered road relaid, villagers of Muduthurai near Coimbatore have decided to hold a ‘yagna’, run free bullock cart service and write to the Pakistan Prime Minister.
As their repeated efforts to relay the road by taking up the issue with the local body authorities proved futile, the villagers through the Village Development Organisation (VDO) have hit upon the novel protest.
The villagers have also planned to send a signed petition to Pakistan Prime Minister urging him to take efforts to relay the road. “As the local bodies here are least concerned with our demands, we are planning to place our demand before the Pakistan government,” they said.
The VDO’s have placed banners at prominent places with a sarcastic message announcing the silver jubilee celebrations of the road at Chinnakumarapalayam, starting from 8 am on Sunday.
On that day, a ‘yagna’ (maha ganapathy yagam) will begin at a local temple seeking divine intervention for a new road. “The yagna will be performed in accordance with the ritualistic norms and villagers will be served free lunch. As human beings could not sort out our problem, we have turned on to God for his help. We are resorting to such peaceful forms of protests as holding road rokos and agitations will disturb traffic and cause trouble to public,” said V. Siva Elango, president of VDO and resident of the village.
A hop-on and hop-off bullock cart ride has also been organised for people along the battered stretch of one kilometer. “Two bullock carts will be operated to carry the villagers to highlight the fact that travelling by a vehicle on this pot holed road may harm the vehicle,” he said.
This battered stretch between Chinnakumarapalayam and Periyakumarapalayam connects the Muduthurai village to Punjaipuliampatty. More than 300 families in Chinnakumarapalayam take this road to reach Punjaipuliampatty, located a few kilometers away, for all their needs including hospital, schools and for purchasing groceries.
When queried, M.S. Rajkumar, chairman of the Karamadai Panchayat union said that the road was laid just four years ago. “The road could have become damaged due to heavy rains and it will be repaired soon,” he said.
( Source : dc )
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