Fed up with govt delay, villagers rebuild road washed away by rain

Surat: Piqued by the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities and elected representatives, over 200 residents of Laskana village near Surat city have temporarily reconstructed a 2.5km long road from Laskana to Kholwad, which had got washed away in the rain. In the absence of this road, life had really become difficult for 25,000 people employed in diamond and textile sectors. The residents had made several requests to district panchayat members and local MLA to reconstruct the road, but to no avail.
If the authorities were indifferent, the residents of Laskana village and nearby areas were determined to reconstruct the road. Many reached the site carrying spade, axes, shovels and other equipment and started work to reconstruct the road on Sunday morning. By evening, they had build a temporary road using gavel and tar lying there, good enough to allow two-wheelers to pass and also teaching the authorities a lesson not to take them lightly anymore.
Chintan Sanghni, one of the leaders of the residents, said, “The administration was to complete the work to build the road from Laskana to Kholwad over Kholwad Creek by February 2019. However, they didn’t do it and the contractor left after making a road on the side of the creek. This road got washed away in the recent rain, forcing people to take 9km long detour to reach Laskana from Kholwad and vice versa. Around 25,000 people employed in diamond and textile sectors, who live in Laskana and nearby areas, ride through this road on motorcycles. We urged local MLA, district panchayat president and panchayat member to help rebuild the road, but no one really cared.”
Hetal Bhadani, a woman from Laskana, said, “When the authorities refuse to listen to people, the latter have no option but to take matters into their own hands.”
BJP MLA DUBS IT AS DRAMA
Surat: VN Jahalavadia, BJP MLA from Kamrej, said, "This is a drama by people having allegiance to opposition parties. The road was relaid by us two days ago when people approached us for help. It is not possible to have a good road near the creek as gravel and pipes get washed away when the water flows with full intensity in the rainy season.”