Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, May 28: A banner that has appeared on Siddakatte-Karpe road in the taluk on the evening of Wednesday May 27 has warned the people's representatives and government officials that people dependent on this road have decided to boycott the ensuing gram panchayat poll unless this road gets asphalted by then.

The banner reminds the concerned that it has been a 'silver jubilee' (25 years) since this road was last asphalted. 'The process of handing over memorandums and representations to people's representatives and officials was started a decade ago. Therefore, the people have stopped relying on promises being made by leaders. Political parties are only after getting votes, they do not have patience to respond to grievances of the people. For us, the road leading to our village is the lifeline. Do you still feel that we should cast our votes in spite of the wretched condition of our road? We have decided not to vote for anyone till this road is repaired,' the banner announces.

This six km road between Siddakatte and Karpe is in very bad shape, and no political parties or successive governments have been able to repair or re-asphalt this road. This has incensed the people of the region. The people's representatives from here have begun to feel the heat of this anger and they are now spending sleepless nights.

This road, which was asphalted in 1990, had been later extended to Arala and Annalike via Nekkareguli, thus increasing its length to 11 km. This road also connects Madame-Kalkuri road which connects Bantwal-Moodbidri road. The people allege that the politicians have shown their inclination towards making money by lobbying in favour of rich persons to secure licences to run private buses on this route, rather than repairing the road.

The locals including Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association and locals had held protest and repaired the road through voluntary work to draw the attention of the concerned towards their plight. Two years ago, the locals had blocked the traffic to show their anger. Protests had been held again last year by blocking Siddakatte-Karpe Road and Siddakatte-Moodbidri Road, but other than empty promises, politicians have done precious little to help the people.

The area houses Anganwadi centre, government lower and higher primary schools, private English medium high school besides hundreds of houses. The people who use the road on daily basis said they have been suffering because of immense heat, bad road, clouds of dust and also during rainy season due to pot holes and dusty road.

The citizens of the region have strongly urged the government, which has evinced more interest towards making it mandatory to caste votes, also to show interest in providing basic facilities to the citizens of the state.