PERNEM: The Ugvem villagers, whose lives have literally been thrown off the road with the expansion of the highway cutting their village in half, have finally decided to solve the issue in their own way. By getting onto the highway and blocking it if all else fails
On Wednesday they held a meeting to discuss the issues that they are facing due to the expansion of the highway and have decided to block the road and stop the work of highway expansion if authorities don’t meet their demands.
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Villagers said that more than advantages, the proposed expansion has disadvantages for them as the authorities and the highway contractors are doing work as per their whims and not as per what the villagers were assured of.
“The ministers, MLA and authorities are very well aware of this issue. These problems have remained unsolved for five years. We have been getting only assurances regarding service roads, bus stops, road crossings etc. We have made the final decision to approach the authorities and if this time too they fail to act, we will block the highway and stop the work,” Ramdas Mahale, a villager said.
Sarpanch of Ugvem, Subhodh Mahale said, “The villagers have taken a decision that we will try everything to get our issues resolved. We have already bought this issue before the notice of the MLA and he has assured to resolve this,” Sarpanch said.
Another villager, Shashikant Mahale said, “The fields are on the opposite side. Also, there are school-going students, senior citizens and women who wait for buses on the highway, without any provision of bus stops or shelters.”
Vinayak Mahale said, “It’s a good thing that highway is being expended. But villagers see it as a disadvantage more than being an advantage. We will get on the highway to solve this matter, because if we compromise at this moment, then we will be forced to suffer in future.”
Villagers pointed out that Balrath of different schools, which come to drop the children, wait across the road and parents have to struggle to get them back to the residential area.
“Also there are agricultural lands across the road, but since there is no access road, we are forced to keep the land barren. The government and agriculture minister are asking people to indulge in agriculture activities and the government will provide assistance. Still, from the last two years the fields are left barren which are now destroyed,” the villagers alleged.
