Port Blair, Jan 28: The villagers and PRI members from Ferrar Gunj Tehsil organized a Road Blockade (Chakka Jam) on 27th January 2020 from 6.00 am onwards at Bambooflat demanding immediate laying of roads from Hope Town to Shoal Bay and Ferrar Gunj.
Large number of villagers gathered at Bambooflat and pressed for a solution to the long pending demand of construction of the dilapidated rural roads.
The Chakka Jam was further extended to other places like Naya Basthi, Stewart Gunj, Kanyapuram and Wimberly Gunj.
It’s pertinent to mention that the rural roads remained neglected for six years without any repair. Earlier, the Citizens Forum had organized a Human Chain and gave representation to the Lieutenant Governor seeking an audience, which wasn’t granted. The villagers were forced to resort to Chakka Jam to attract the attention of the authorities.
In a negotiation that followed between the Villagers and the Officials from the Administration, the concerned authorities – Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chief Engineer, APWD and other officials – it was informed that the roadwork will start from 20th February 2020 positively. This was conveyed on the spot by the SDM, following which the Chakka Jam was called off. The villagers demanded the authorities to stick to the deadline as promised.
The Member of Parliament, Panchayat Pradhans, Zilla Parishad, Samiti and Members of all Panchayats of the affected areas participated along with the villagers.