Anakapalle Tribals Seek Basic Amenities

Visakhapatnam: Tribal people from 15 villages took out a doli yatra from Abir Centre to the Narsipatnam revenue divisional officer (RDO) office in Anakapalle, demanding basic amenities such as improved road access, a reliable water supply, better schools and the protection of their tribal lands.

The demonstration culminated in a formal submission of petitions during a public grievance redressal system (PGRS) programme chaired by Anakapalle collector Vijaya Krishnan at the Narsipatnam RDO office.

One of the key appeals from the protestors was the immediate initiation of a road construction project in Donkada village, Golugonda mandal. In 2023, `1.6 crore was sanctioned for a BT road connecting Karaka Road to Donkada village. However, as noted in the petition, construction has yet to begin, leaving locals struggling with inadequate road infrastructure.

Beyond road accessibility, education remains a pressing concern. In Donkada, 14 children are forced to trek six kilometres daily to attend school in Jilledu Pudi village. Petitioners urged the government to establish a local school to ease the burden on students.

Several villages, including Nilubanda, Jeelugulova, Pasuvulu Banda and PVTG communities in Ravikavitham, V Madugula, and Rolugunta mandals, requested urgent road improvements. Kalyan Lava, Jeelugulova, and Pasuvulu Banda village residents petitioned for drinking water facilities.

Another critical demand was the protection of tribal lands in Panasalapadu and Kaugunta. The tribal community requested the immediate cancellation of pattas (land rights) granted to non-tribals for specific revenue survey number 61.64 in Kovvugunta and survey number 8-1-6-9.6.1 in the Panasalapadu revenue area. To ensure justice, they urged the Joint Collector to conduct a thorough investigation and visit the affected tribal villages.

Adding to their grievances, the tribals pointed to the proliferation of illegal belt liquor shops across the Narsipatnam division, claiming that officials had failed to take action against them. They demanded swift intervention to curb this issue.