Heavy rains leave Nowai Villagers marooned

Datia, Aug 22: Incessant rains have caused overflowing of water from Hansapur Dam in Datia District and resulting in floods across the area.

Nowai Village of District's Mander Tehsil has consequently turned into an island due to the gushing floodwaters released from Hansapur dam. It has thrown normal life out of gear and forced the people to use boats and tubes to move about. Villagers are relying on available boats and tubes to move about while the District administration is alleged to have done nothing for help here

Villagers on their part can be found helping the rescue team to make bunds. They are very much upset at the authorities for not taking any precautionary steps in that direction.o much so the villagers have resolved to boycott the forthcoming elections from Mander constituency to the State legislature. The public anger is due to the fact that neither the local legislator nor the District Collector or other officials have visited their village.

"The condition of the village is pitiable. Nobody, neither the Prime Minister nor anyone has ever come or may come here. Even our MLA hasn't come here once. They come here to obtain votes, they never return to see the condition of the village. The Collector hasn't turned up here. We are facing lots of problems. Even our animals have to swim to reach the other side. Many of our livestock have died because of it. We are facing problems and stuck in a big dilemma. After Independence nobody has come here...we want to be provided with proper convenience facilities," said Mumtaz Khan, a villager.

The local resident complain despite 61 years of independence, no development work has been done in the village. There is no facility of road and presently following the excessive rain the villagers are forced to use boats to reach the outer world.

" Our village is covered by pond from all the sides.We are living in the middle of water and our life is totally dependent on boats. Boat is our life. Animals have to swim to cross the river to reach the other side. If our kids and elderly people get ill, we are unable to take them to the hospital and they die here. We went to everybody from Tehsildar to the Collector, MP and even Chief Minister. Some people went to Datia District also. But nobody was there to listen to our sufferings. Not a single officer has come here. We use the pond's water to drink," lamented Kedar Singh, another villager.

However, as usual with the bureaucracy, the District Collector has assured all relief for the stranded people in the village. And he played it safe with the usual lip service.

"There is 102 years old pond in Nowai village. It was dried up for past 4 years, it was empty. The incessant rains have filled it with water. There is another alternative way for the villagers. We are checking the condition of the village. The villagers have been provided with all the facilities. Everything is fine there. They (villagers) use boats for their convenience," said G P Norgaiya, District Collector, Datia.

Although every year monsoon leaves a trail of death and destruction across India, much of the economy depends on it.

Meanwhile, the powers-that-be will have to act soon since the residents of Nowai and other nearby villages have resolved to boycott the forthcoming elections and votes matter a lot for the survival of politicians, irrespective of party and ideology. By Shiv Shankar Sarathi

ANI