The indefinite hunger strike by Rajesh Patil demanding repair of the 500-metre damaged road in Khadarwadi entered its third day on Saturday. The protest is being held in front of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department office on Club Road, Belgaum, with ambulance and police personnel deployed at the site.
Officials attempted to persuade Patil to call off the strike, but he refused, stating that the protest will continue until road work begins or a concrete written assurance is given. He said no positive response has been received so far and questioned the functioning of democracy, pointing out that while roads are quickly built for VIP visits without sanctions, a road sanctioned 5–6 years ago in Khadarwadi requires a hunger strike even for patchwork.
An official clarified that the NH-4 to Khadarwadi road stretches 1.8 km, of which 300 metres fall under the Corporation and 1.49 km under the department. The road was improved in 2017 with a five-year maintenance period that ended in 2022, and renewal was due between 2022 and 2025. However, 500 metres inside the village were dug up under the Jal Jeevan Mission, damaging the carriageway, preventing renewal work. While the remaining 900 metres were completed, the contractor’s bill is pending due to incomplete balance work.
The official added that JJM must first restore the dug-up stretch. Temporary WMM filling was done during the rains, but it requires technical verification, as Mix Seal Surfacing cannot be laid on a damaged carriageway. Reports have been submitted, and the official was speaking on behalf of the Executive Engineer, who is currently recuperating after surgery.
It’s a SHAME! The people’s respresentative of the area needs to be held accountable as all such works are executed only after approval of the elected representative as per the existing rules of GOK. The department officials are helpless in the matter.