More than 350 families had left Kanar village in the absence of road in Pithoragarh district
More than 350 families had left Kanar village in the absence of road in Pithoragarh district
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Feb 10
More than 350 families have left Kanar village of Dharchula sub-division in the ast decade, due to absence of motor road to the village as over 16 km long motor road from Baram road head to Kanar village remain unconstructed.
“Our village had more than 500 families till the year 2015, when we started demanding 16 km long motor road from Baram to our village,” said Jeewan Varti, a resident of the village.
The patch of land, that needs forest department clearance, falls under the area of protected territory of Askot Musk Deer sanctuary.”We have planned to meet union ministers and state leaders demanding speed up the formalities as it is only village in Dharchula assembly constituency that is facing extinction due to absence of road to the remote village,” said Dhan Singh Dhami, a former ‘Pramukh’ of Dharchula block
Mmost of the villagers have shifted to roadside town of Baram.”The plight of villagers is such that over six villagers, including pregnant women and old aged patients, have died in last 5 years due to non-availability of medical treatment while being taken to the road head,” said Jeewan Verti.
Sanjay Chauhan, executive engineer of PWD, Askot has said that a joint inspection with forest department is scheduled of the spot and find alternate land to compensate the forest land in Kanalichina area which would be taken for the proposed road. ” The Pithoragarh District Magistrate is taking interest in the project,” said Chauhan.
Prem Parihar, a villager of Kanar village has said that despite two former Chief Ministers namely Harish Rawat and Trivendra Singh Rawat havin given assurances to construct the road during their regime, the basic formalities of forest clearance were not even completed.”The villagers have at several occasions boycotted the polls, held agitations, met politicians and officials but all in vain and disappointed villagers started leaving the village,” claimed Prem Parihar.
The villagers have said that if the 16 km long road gets constructed, the famous ‘Puranik’ temple of ‘Kanar Kokila’ will get pilgrims boost.” It would help generate livelihood opportunities for the youths,” hoped Jeewan Verti.
