Road works under the Left Wing Extremists Affected areas (LWEA) development scheme have allegedly been neglected by roads and buildings department officials for the last one year.
The Central government allotted Rs.613.62 crores for 23 road works under the LWEA during 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years. The aim of the scheme is to provide road network and transport facility to all Agency areas. Of the total 23 road works proposed, only three are completed.
The proposed roads from Yellandu to Pakala, Yella-ndu to Gundala, Nellipaka to Pochavaram, Burgamp-adu to Eturunagaram, Bur-gampadu to Aswaraopeta were to be completed by December 2011 according to agreements. Not even 50 per cent is completed so far. In addition, officials have often changed estimations, five to 25 per cent more than the original estimations.
Road works from Bhad-rachalam to Narsipatnam, Kunavaram to Chatti, Bay-yaram to Tadwai and Bha-drachalam to Chandrup-atla have not got forest dep-artment clearances so far, and there is clearly lack of coordination between the R & B and forest officials, with both blaming each other for delay during review meetings and at video conferences.
“Delay in getting forest clearances for these roads was a mistake of both sides. We did not sent proposals in time, and as a result, forest officials did not pursue them properly,” said R & B engineering officials.
“Construction of roads in a reserve forest is normally not permitted, but the Left Wing Extremists Affected areas development scheme is a Centrally sponsored scheme and permission has to be given for these roads only by our higher authorities, after showing alternative exte-nts of land and forests on these,” said the Paloncha and Kothagudem divisional forest officers, Mr B.A. Saidulu and Ms Asha.
