QUEPEM: This may sound strange but the ground reality is that for the past five decades the residents of Cuddegal village in Sanvordem constituency have been compelled to lead a “primitive life” in the absence of road, water, toilet and other facilities.
The residents complained that for the past 50 years the panchayat, MLAs and the government have failed to solve their basic problems.
Cuddegal, which is forest area, has 60 villagers residing in around 25 houses, who are dependent on mining.
However, the shutdown in mining operations has had a huge impact on the village as at present most villagers have been rendered unemployed.
The panchayat has failed to address the villagers’ grievances following the closure in mining business.
The locals complained that for the past several years they have been taking up the issue with regards to the basic facilities with the mining company and the local administration but in vain.
They said these authorities have till date not considered it dutiful to provide the basic amenities to the village but during elections politicians make assurances of fulfilling the basic amenities but soon all these promises fall flat.
Raising concerns over the safety of women in the village, Shalaka Naik, a local said, “Our village lacks a proper road. My daughter, who is Class X, is forced to commute along the road, which has a thick forest cover to proceed to school. The people are inconvenienced or forced to undergo hardship in the absence of a proper road. And to add to our woes there is no public transport facility in the village.”
She blamed the Sanvordem Panchayat and the MLA for failing to provide toilet facilities for the past several years.
Senior citizen Hanumat Nagana, who has been residing in the village for the past five decades, said the village is lags behind with regards to basic facilities.
“Leave aside basic facilities, in the absence of toilet facilities, the locals are forced to defecate in open spaces. Water is supplied via tankers twice a week. The villagers are compelled to use the kacha road,” said Rajendra Shirodkar, another resident.
