WATERLOGGING ON BIHIA-KHADRA ROAD

WATERLOGGING ON BIHIA-KHADRA ROAD

24-JULY-ENG 15

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------Severe waterlogging near Khadra Turn (Bihiya) on the Bihiya-Jagdishpur State Highway in Bhojpur district has made life miserable for local residents and commuters. Taking a firm stand on this serious issue, former Jagdishpur MLA Bhai Dinesh has raised critical questions regarding the functioning of the district administration and the concerned departmental officials. Highlighting the grim situation, the former MLA stated that the road at Khadra Mor has ceased to be a road and has transformed into a pond. Thousands of people—including schoolchildren, farmers, patients, and motorists—are forced to risk their lives while traversing this stretch daily. He alleged that the situation is deteriorating due to the administration's silence and apathy.

Expressing his displeasure, Bhai Dinesh recalled that last year, too, he had joined local residents in staging a protest against severe waterlogging at this very spot by blocking the road and symbolically fishing in the accumulated water. He noted that while the road was constructed at a cost of lakhs of rupees, no proper drainage system or drain was built to handle water runoff. This reflects a blatant misuse of public funds and gross negligence on the part of the concerned engineers.

District officials—including the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO)—as well as public representatives, frequently travel along this route. Yet, the lack of any concrete initiative to find a permanent solution stands as proof of the administration's insensitivity.

The former MLA demanded a high-level inquiry into the entire matter and called for strict punitive action against the negligent officials and engineers. He emphasized the need for the immediate construction of a permanent drain to make the road fit for traffic.

Issuing a stern ultimatum to the administration, Bhai Dinesh made it clear that if a permanent solution is not found within a week, he would be compelled to launch a democratic and peaceful protest alongside local residents right in the middle of the road at Khadra Mor. He stated that the district administration and the concerned departments would be held solely responsible for any untoward situation or public inconvenience arising from this agitation.