Gurupriya bridges divide in ‘swabhiman anchal’
Koraput: Exactly two years ago on July 26, 2018, the long-standing dream of the residents of Malkangiri’s cut-off area was fulfilled when chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated a bridge over the Gurupriya river. It connected more than 20,000 people across 151 villages (Balimela reservoir) under the Chitrakonda block to the mainland in Malkangiri district.
With the efforts of the district administration, development has reached the remotest corners of the area. The region that was once identified as the cut-off area is now known as swabhiman anchal.
Officials said all-round development of the region was conceptualised under the socio-economic transformation and upliftment (SETU) programme, launched soon after the inauguration of the 910-metre-long bridge.
“The Gurupriya bridge has facilitated the construction of several kilometres of roads inside swabhiman anchal. Bus and ambulance services have been introduced in the area,” collector (Malkangiri) Manish Agarwal said, adding that the administration has dug more than 250 tube-wells, electrified villages and strengthened the primary education system and healthcare in the area on a priority basis.
MBBS doctors have been posted at Jodambo and Janbai primary health centres. Mobile health units are being deployed to provide better healthcare. “We plan to construct a teachers’ residential complex inside the anchal to ensure that the academic activities are not hit,” the collector said.
While several projects under the MGNREGA are on in full swing, the release of more than one crore fish fingerlings into the Balimela reservoir has strengthened the tribal economy of the region. “Turmeric cultivation is being promoted in the area. It has also been decided to convert Malkangiri into a hub of turmeric production,”Agarwal added.
The region, which was once considered as a liberated zone of the Maoists, is now witnessing both development and security enhancement. While Janbai, Bodopoda, Jantapai, Hantalguda and Jodambo have got one BSF company each for anti-Maoist operations in the area, a police station was inaugurated by Odisha DGP Abhay at Jodambo last month. “The swabhiman anchal is our focus area and all security-related measures have been taken to ensure that the people residing in the area have access to all socio-economic facilities,” DIG (south-western range) Shafeen Ahamed K said.
Surrounded by the Balimela reservoir on three sides and Andhra Pradesh on the fourth, the swabhimaan anchal was ruled by the Maoists once. Boats were the only mode of communication to the place.