Tribal Villagers Build Road Themselves For Drinking Water Access
The work, which entered its fourth day on Sunday, is being carried out by Konda Dora tribal families in Maralova village: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: To secure drinking water access, residents of Maralova tribal village in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district have begun constructing a road through voluntary labour after officials said a borewell drilling vehicle could not reach the village without road connectivity.
The work, which entered its fourth day on Sunday, is being carried out by Konda Dora tribal families in Maralova village under Rompilli Panchayat in Ananthagiri mandal. The village, home to 12 families, has long struggled with severe drinking water shortage and poor connectivity.
Villagers said they had appealed to the district collector for drinking water facilities, following which rural water supply officials inspected the area and informed them that a basic road was required for borewell machinery to access the village.
Determined to avoid further delays, residents decided to construct the road themselves. Using shovels, crowbars and other manual tools, they have been clearing rocks and levelling hilly terrain along a one-kilometre stretch connecting the village to the main road.
“We are performing a task that the government ought to have done,” villagers said, demanding that the work be recognised under the employment guarantee scheme and funds sanctioned for completion of the road.
Residents alleged that despite repeated appeals, no senior official had visited the village. They said road access was essential not only for drinking water but also for schoolchildren who travel through forest paths to reach Gadilova village.
Villagers, including Kanchuri Gangulu, Kanchuri Mahesh and Kanchuri Gangamma, urged the government to sanction a permanent road and proposed naming it “Adavi Thalli Bata.” CPM leader K. Govinda Rao and Girijana Sangham leader Galabarthi Errayya also supported the demand for immediate government assistance.
