Kudal villagers threaten to bar officials if stalled road work does not start by October 15
Residents of Kudal in Javali taluka say they will not let officials and staff enter the village if work on the half-finished road does not begin before October 15.
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Medha: The road from Indiranagar Chowk to Sambhaji Maharaj Chowk via the market in Kudal village, in Javali taluka, is an important internal road of the village. Work on this road has been lying half-finished for some time. Angry over the stalled work, residents have given a direct warning to officials of the Public Works Department and the contractor.
During Ganeshotsav, residents had warned of an agitation against the work. Following this, talks were held between Public Works Department officials, the contractor concerned and villagers. At that time, an assurance was given that the road work would be completed promptly and quickly after Ganeshotsav. It was also said that the work would be completed after the meeting during the Ganeshotsav period.
In reality, however, Ganeshotsav is over and Navratri has begun, yet the work has not been completed. Residents are therefore deeply unhappy. Notably, the village is that of the Panchayat Samiti chairperson. The issue has gained added weight because residents are suffering on account of the Public Works Department's working in the chairperson's own village.
Because the road work has been left unfinished, dust rises in the market area, traffic is disrupted and commuters face greater hardship. Residents coming to the market along this road, as well as traders, are facing major difficulties. With vehicles plying, clouds of dust rise, leaving shopkeepers and residents distressed.
Kudal's Shahi Dasara and Navratri festival are about to begin soon, and the festival holds great importance in the Kudal area. During Navratri, women and villagers, following religious tradition, walk barefoot in a circumambulation for nine days. In such a situation, the dust, gravel and soil on the road and the conditions created by the unfinished work will add further to residents' difficulties. "If the health of citizens is being played with, we will not stay silent," the villagers warned angrily.
Angry residents of Kudal have now said in clear terms that if work on the road does not begin before October 15, officials and staff will not be allowed to enter the village. Villagers are deeply angry because the work has not been completed despite the assurance given during Ganeshotsav.
