Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Dec. 01: Mr. Sujan Das, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Laxmipur, Diglipur, along with villagers coming under the Panchayat mounted a massive dhana and chakka jam at School Tikrey, Laxmipur today.
As per report, the Pradan along with villagers and residents of the region held a massive dharna right on the road at School Tikrey and blocked the road since morning today to press for a 16-point demands which are reportedly long pending.
The SH-15 road starting from Diglipur Bazaar to Shyamnagar and other village roads are in miserable conditions for years together and as a result of which the public are severely suffering. The protestors demanded the undertaking of repairing work of all these roads on priority by the concerned Dept. Poor network connectivity (BSNL) was highlighted. The battery back-up at BSNL tower, Laxmipur fails immediately after electricity power failure at Laxmipur village and due to this technical snag, the BSNL network also fails, said the protestors. The BSNL network is very much required for daily official works, distribution of Ration under PDS, distribution of fertilizer through biometrics, etc. BSNL is the sole service provider in the region and its failure affects all the departments to function and also the general public as Laxmipur gets cut off from the other region in the field of communication and public services. There is a sheer shortage of doctors, staff, and equipment at the local hospital and need to be immediately redressed, the Pradhan demanded. There is reportedly no ASHA worker in Milangram Sub-Centre and as a result of which residents in the area are suffering; they demanded for an ASHA worker in the Sub-Centre. The demonstrators raised the issues with the Electricity Department; they reportedly regularly pay bills but the frequent power failures are plaguing their normal life, they alleged. They also raised the issue of illegal encroachment of land and there is reportedly a delay in demarcation of land and hence the stakeholders have to face a number of problems. They demanded that the demarcation process be made faster. The Pradhand said that the delay in Work order issue and tender approval process hampers the developmental works in the region. Shortage of manpower at Gram Panchayat, Withdrawal of Administrative Approval and Expenditure Sanction (AA & ES) powers from the Pradhan are the reasons why and because the functioning of the PRI is in jeopardy, the Pradhan alleged.
Frequent wild elephant movement and wreckage of public property, blocked natural nallah causing flood and crop destruction, delayed labour payment under MGNREGA, pending PMAY scheme distribution, overgrown tree branches posing a risk to electric lines, lack of grazing land development and stray cattle issues were the other points raised by the demonstrators.
The dharna gained momentum after 10:00 am when villagers gathered from villages and sat on a tarpaulin placed right on the road at School Tikrey and blocked the road. STS buses, pvt. Vehicles and Defense vehicles were also blocked and thus traffic was severely disrupted. However, ambulance and vehicles carrying patients were allowed to pass. The protestors shouted slogans such as: “Aaj janta road me kyu hai, LG saab jabab do, CS saab jabab do, AC saab jabab do”. The officials of almost all the line departments reached the dharna site and presented the status of the respective issue/point. The Executive Magistrate (BDO, Diglipur) Rajendar Prasad reached the dharna site and heard the grievances and issues raised by the protestors.
Notably, Shri S. Krishna Chaitanya, DANICS, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) for the North & Middle Andaman District and who also holds multiple designations, including Assistant Commissioner (HQ), CEO of Zilla Parishad, and Sub-Divisional Magistrate reached the agitation site and gave a patient hearing to the Pradhan and villagers, and he reportedly gave them a verbal assurance that he would see that the issues are resolved within fifteen days. As far as the SH-15 road is concerned, the approval of necessary funds is lying with the MHA and once it is approved, the construction work SH-15 as well as other village roads will be reportedly done on priority. After the assurance, the protestors dispersed the dharna site.
