Tribals Demand Roads, Water Amid Tourism Push in ASR

Visakhapatnam: In Amalaguda village, located in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district, tribal residents staged a protest to highlight their long-standing neglect. Carrying an empty doli, which is a makeshift stretcher, they embarked on a two-kilometer-long “Doli Yatra” from their hamlet to the road leading to the Tadiguda Waterfalls. This unique protest took place in a tourist zone, where hundreds of visitors frequently witness the stark contrast between promoted tourism and the deprivation faced by local communities.

Amalaguda is home to just eight families and lies three kilometres from the Ananthagiri mandal headquarters. Despite this proximity, the village is cut off from essential services, lacking proper road access and drinking water facilities. Residents rely on natural springs for their water supply, and when illnesses occur, they must transport patients along dense jungle paths using dolis. Tourists visiting the Tadiguda Waterfalls often come across these processions, serving as a reminder of the hardships endured by the tribal population.

Years ago, construction of a road was initiated but was abandoned after only two kilometres. The unfinished stretch has since been overtaken by thick vegetation, rendering it impassable. On multiple occasions, villagers have attempted to clear the jungle themselves through community efforts known as Shramadan, hoping to restore access. However, officials from the Panchayat have only provided verbal assurances, promising to clear the path but failing to follow through. Complaints submitted to the district collector and the mandal MPDO office through the public grievance redressal system have also gone unanswered.

The residents' frustration has now reached a tipping point. Villagers like Korra Gopi and Korra Kausalya have declared that unless they receive basic amenities, including drinking water and road connectivity, they will escalate their protests to the mandal headquarters.