Mail News Service
Chaibasa, April 22: Exasperated villagers living along the dilapidated NH 75 stretch between Khunti and Chaibasa that connects Jharkhand to Odisha on Saturday launched an indefinite road blockade on this ‘dust bowl’ section of the National Highway that brought traffic to a standstill on both sides of this transportation lifeline reaching Odisha. Long queues of heavy vehicles that transport iron ore, have been formed on either side of the blocked NH 75 due to the road blockade by hapless and irate villagers.
This stretch of NH 75 continues to be more than a spot of bother for villagers living in the vicinity of this vital transportation link including commuters. Vehicles passing along this NH 75 stretch raise clouds of dust thereby making life difficult for the villagers. The villagers had drawn the attention of the district administration to this grave problem several times including in February last when the administration had assured of sprinkling water on the affected NH but according to the protestors, no tangible steps had been taken in that direction. They also stated that tenders had been floated for repair of the NH 75 stretch between Khunti and Chaibasa and after initial work the repair job had failed to control the dust factor. Last week, the Deputy Commissioner had issued directives to the Executive Engineer of National Highway for sprinkling water on the affected road but there had been no outcome. The condition of the road from Chaibasa to Haat Gamharia is so pathetic that it does not allow room for even safe pedestrian movement. Disappointed and angry villagers living along either end of the affected NH 75 finding no other recourse have commenced an indefinite road blockade from Saturday. It may be mentioned that every day hundreds of vehicles carrying iron ore ply along this vital stretch of NH 75.
