Andhra Pradesh: Tribals saddle up in protest for road

Visakhapatnam: The ST Bagata tribe, comprising 405 members from the Chali Singam hilltop village of Chimalapadu Panchayat, staged a horseback protest march on Saturday demanding the construction of a long-awaited road. The demonstration was triggered by the prolonged delay in road development despite the allocation of funds.

According to G.O. No. 726, Rs 2.66 crore was sanctioned for panchayat raj rural development on 30 October 2023. However, the road construction has yet to commence due to the lack of requisite forest permissions. Frustrated by this inaction, the tribal community resorted to a horseback protest to demand the necessary approvals.

“Our village lacks proper roads, and many residents suffer or even lose their lives travelling in doli,” said Sarpanch Vanjari Gangaraju. “Governments come and go, but our plight remains unchanged. We, the tribals of Chali Singam, have long appealed for road access. Please grant us permission to use the road,” he pleaded.

The sight of horse-riding protesters in the high hills surprised forest officials, including DFO and Chodavaram Range Officer PV Verma. The protest coincided with villagers travelling to the Kothakota weekly fair, emphasising the urgency of their demand.

Social activist K. Govinda Rao, Sarpanch Vanjari Gangaraju, and tribal leader Cheepuru Shankar Rao were key participants, underscoring the community’s ongoing struggle for basic infrastructure.