These tribal hamlets in Ooty still lack road connectivity

Udhagamandalam: Despite several petitions to the government, a proper tar road still remain a dream for the three tribal villages near Maamaram in Kotagiri taluk in the Nilgiris. The villagers have to walk at least 4km from Maamaram, located on Kotagiri-Mettupalayam Road, to reach their hamlets located deep inside a tea estate and forest land. In case of any medical emergency, patients had to be carried manually till the main road to make use of the ambulance facility.Schoolchildren also have to walk long distances to their schools daily.
The villagers of kurumba hamlet in Vellarikombai and irula hamlets in Kuvakarai and Sundapatti said three successive district collectors had visited their hamlets to assess the prevailing situation, but had not taken any initiative to address their grievance.
All these three hamlets are located diagonally 4km away from Kotagiri-Mettupalayam Road. These hamlets are located within 100 acres of land that the state government allotted for them long ago, and they are surrounded by a private tea estate on one side and forest land on the other.
"We have to walk home all the distance from the main road. Even for that, we don't have a proper road. We had petitioned the district administration and the state government several times, but in vain," M Ponnan, Vellirikombai village head, told TOI. A couple of weeks ago, the villagers had again petitioned the district administration, seeking road facility to their village.
The situation is not different in Sundapatti and Kuvakari villages. "During any medical emergency, it is extremely difficult as we have to carry them (patients) manually all the way to the main road. And at night hours, we are scared of wildlife movement," said Janaki, a social activist from Vellirikombai village. In most cases, Janaki takes care of pregnant women and deliveries as well.
According to the villagers, the road would become a realty only if the government explores two options. "One option is that the government has to persuade the management of the private estate to provide us "right of way" for at least 2km.
Another option is to cut a road through forest land. "For this, the forest department has to grant permission for developing a 2km, 12ft wide road. If that materialises, with the help from the panchayat, we can develop the road," Janaki said.
At least, 30 children from these three villages, comprising around 70 households, daily walk to their schools located in either Kunjapanai or Kotagiri, covering a distance of 8km to and fro.
When contacted, P Murugesan, project officer, district rural development agencies, told TOI, "As far as funds are concerned, there is no constraint. We have to study the area physically and see that there is any feasibility of developing a road under the Forest Act." He also said they have instructed the local block development officer to inspect the area in this connection.