Village in Giridih struggles to stay afloat

Dhanbad: Lakra Beda village of Kharpoka panchayat under Pirtand block of Giridih district turns into an island for 2-3 months during the monsoon. The tribal village with a population of 110 people is surrounded by hills and dense forests on three sides and the Usri river on the other side .
The only modes of communication, the river, is hindered due to floods in monsoon.The entire village is cut off from the neighbourhood.
"There is nothing in the name of development. Apart from lacking transportation facilities, we are also facing crisis of drinking water and other kinds of basic infrastructure," a 60-year-old villager, Rasi Lal Tuddu said.
"The main trouble is that neither we can go to the town for work nor can our children go to schools till the situation improves. Our normal life and daily activities are affected for about 2-3 three months mostly between, May to July," said Shyamlal Tuddu, 47, adding that their ground level demands were always ignored by the government officials and the panchayat representatives.
"We are not aware about the situation in Lakrbeda village. The district administration has prepared a list of almost 70-75 such villages that have to be developed under Parasnath Action Plan (PAP). If it comes under the recently prepared list, we will soon chalk out a development plan for the village, else we will find other ways to resolve the issues," said DPO, Diwesh Gautam, who is also the nodal officer for PAP in Giridih district.
"Nothing much can be spoken about the Lakrabeda, as we have not visited this particular location so far, but this is true that there are several such villages in Pirtand where information regarding lack of transportations, communications or other such facilities have been reported by panchayat representatives," said circle officer Yaswant Nayak who is also in the charge of Pirtand BDO.
"We have already informed the concerned district or block officials a number of times but nothing much could be done so far," said Sajauddin Ansari, panchayat committee member and the up-pramukh of Kharpoka panchayat.