BREACHING RED ZONE: NAXAL-HIT AREAS OF BASTAR GET ROADS, BRIDGES AND SECURITY CAMPS

The inaccessible Naxal-affected areas of Bastar, where it was difficult to navigate, now have roads, electricity, education, and myriad health facilities. A few years ago, all these basic amenities were a dream for the people here. The administration has tried to make this dream a reality.

To speed up the development works, 28 security forces camps have been set up in the Naxal-affected areas of Bastar in the last two years. With the establishment of these camps, development works have accelerated in these areas.

Since December 2018, 21 roads have been built in Naxal-affected areas. Remote areas are being connected through a network of about 700 km of roads such as Bijapur-Awapalli-Jagrgunda Road, Narayanpur-Palli-Barsur Road, Antagarh-Bedma Road, Chintanapalli-Nayapara Road, Chintal Nar-Madai Guda Road, Konta-Golla Palli Road, etc.

At the same time, 450 km of roads have been completed in the areas of Bastar during the lockdown period. 132 bridge-culverts have also been constructed. These roads are built in areas that were held by Naxals. Chindanar Bridge, one of the four major bridges under construction on the Indravati River, along with smaller bridges, is almost complete. The bridge will open to the general public by the last week of June.

With the formation of this, the way of the forests of Abujhmad from Dantewada will be opened. Road work is going on across the river. With the construction of this road, a dozen villages including Karka, Handwara will be added.

To curb Naxalism in Bastar, the strategy adopted by the security forces to set up camps in the affected areas has now restricted Naxals in a smaller area. Most of these camps have been set up in such inaccessible areas, where development was unable to reach due to the fear of Naxalites.

Now, roads are being constructed rapidly in these areas, traffic is getting smooth, government schemes are effectively reaching the villagers, as the landscape of interior areas is changing rapidly.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said that the life of tribals has changed with the establishment of new camps. Four bridges are being built on the Indravati River. Since independence, till now there were only 3 bridges in 200 km on Indravati River, which will be increased to seven by next year. Similarly, the Palli-Barsur Road, Basaguda-Jagrgunda Road, Usur-Pameed Road, which has been closed for the last 30 years, have opened with the help of camps by security forces.