Karopady's hard road to travel; Poor condition of roads irks residents

Vittal: There is mobile coverage here and data is available too. But, basic facilities have not yet reached here. There is no limit to the difficulties borne by the residents who do not have a road and the lane that they make use of is not adequate. The people here have to carry the invalids and patients to the doctor and their attempts to transport essential commodities here is no less than watching a circus. The localities here walk with great fear through this dangerous lane.

Padvu lane

This is the story of the lane that connects Anekallu in Karopady village with Saletturu village via Padvu. The one-and-a-half kilometre long panchayat lane becomes very difficult to use during the rainy season coupled with landslides occurring in its vicinity.

Arecanut trunks have been used to prevent the lane from collapsing. There is a small drain along this narrow lane. 10 years ago, a footbridge was installed here. If the water at Anekallu river rises, the drain gets inundated and the footbridge becomes useless.

Dam problem

Kerala government has created a massive dam across this river on Kerala’s side. During the rainy season, the garbage, plants and trees that come floating in the water block the dam and thus increase the water level. The farmland close by also gets washed away resulting the water level in the lane to rise causing problems to the pedestrians.

Low-hanging Electricity cables

They never have electricity. The electricity cables are hanging and any complaints on this to the Department bears no fruit.

Problem – Solution

The problem faced by the ten families here is not a recent one. During election times, they had received promises and assurances. After the victory, their problems will be solved, they claim. But then they always forget.

We are poor and exist through day wage labour. Running behind representatives of the people do not fill the stomachs in our families. Several times we have brought the problems to their notice, but to no avail. The pedestrians here are requesting for the quick resolving of the problems that they are facing.

There is no other way for the 10 families here

Earlier, many used to make use of this lane. Since a road has been created in the surrounding, currently only 10 families have been trapped with no other way. They also do not have any road. The lane is not fit to traverse through. If the health of the elders deteriorates, the youth have to carry them to the edge of the road. These ten families have no other way and are experiencing much difficulty.

Grant is required

“Several times we have visited the place and carried discussions. The garbage stuck in the dam built by Kerala government across Anekallu River increases the water level in its surroundings. It is difficult to make use of the lane then. There are arecanut farms on either sided of the lane. Not even 3 feet of land is available here. If the required land was available, the lane could have been concretised. But, it is impossible to develop this lane with Rs. 50-60,000 released from the panchayat,” explained Baby R. Shetty, President, Karopady GP.