MP: Villagers write to Prez, PM demanding electricity, roads

Alirajpur (MP), Feb 20: Residents of five villages under Kacchla Panchayat here have written to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding basic amenities, else the panchayat be handed over to neighbouring Gujarat.

The villagers, mostly tribals, said their villages have no roads and electricity even after 68 years of Independence. "Our villages neither have transport facility nor communication network. As a result, ambulance or police vans cannot reach the villages - Kacchla, Ghut, Dhakkapura, Harod and Chimata," the letter stated.

"We are dependent on nearby Gujarat's village Kotar for transportation as it is connected with state roadways and has access to electricity. If Madhya Pradesh government can't provide us the basic infrastructure, it should hand over the panchayat to Gujarat," the villagers said in the letter.

"Our children can't study," Jor Singh, Sarpanch of Kachhla said, adding "Since we are in a deep trouble, we held a meeting, drafted the letter and sent it to the President and the Prime Minister last week."

Meanwhile, local MP and former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria said he will take up the issue with the Prime Minister. "I am going to talk to the Prime Minister over the issue. It is shameful on the part of Madhya Pradesh government that people want the panchayat to be added to Gujarat," he said.

District Collector, Shailendra Singh said, "We have issued fresh tenders for construction of roads. Within a fortnight, electricity poles will reach Kachhla Panchayat. We will try to sort out the problems at the earliest."

PTI