No tahasildar, no BDO: Development takes backseat

KORAPUT: Development activities have taken a severe beating at Maoist-hit Chandrapur block in Rayagada district as posts of BDO and tahasildar are lying vacant.
Villagers said they are facing problems in getting their important works done at block and tahasil offices as both the posts have remained vacant since January.
"Villagers reaching the block office from far-flung places are forced to return disappointed without their work getting done.Due to absence of BDO, villagers are facing problems in getting old-age pension and houses under Indira Awaas Yojana," alleged block president Bhima Gagaranga.
Works like construction of village roads and implementation of poverty-alleviation programmes are put on the backburner. Chandrapur block, 130 km from the district headquarters town of Rayagada, consists of seven panchayats.
Due to remoteness of the block, it always remains neglected. Such is the condition that there is no proper road communication to Bijapur panchayat. Villagers are forced to come to Chandrapur via Gudari block.
"On several occasions, we urged the district administration to post a permanent BDO and a tahasildar at Chandrapur, but to no avail," said villager Debahari Bhat.
Officials refuted the allegation that development activities have been hit due to absence of the officers.
"All normal development activities are being carried out at the block. If any specific complaint comes then it will be looked into. We are managing with in-charge BDO and in-charge tahasildar. Efforts are on to fill the vacant posts soon," said collector (Rayagada) Sashi Bhusan Padhi.