Belthangadi: Navoor villagers had dreamt of an asphalted road for 35 years. To achieve their dream, they had submitted pleas at all administration offices concerned over the years. When the administration relented, they even boycotted local Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections too to send a clear signal to the people in power.

Sensing the heat, the local administration finally decided to heed to their demands and sanctioned Rs 50 Lakh to prevent further backlash over road development along Navoor Kaikamba and forest bungalow in the area. When the work began on the 1.5 km stretch, the villagers jumped in joy over realigning their long standing dream.

Unfortunately, their dream did not last long as the newly laid road got washed away in just 5 days, unable to withstand the early monsoon showers that lashed the area. The poor planning and execution exposed the lower layer which existed before the road was covered by a kilometer and half of bitumen akin to talcum powder running down a sun tanned face!

Villagers are back on streets again, this time demanding severe action against the contractor, who executed the road works and a probe into the allotment of contract works.

Navoor village unfortunately lags behind by 35 years in rural development with only a stockpile of rubble left over!