A public grievance hearing in Jhara Kandhal Panchayat, Barkot Block, Deogarh district, was disrupted on Tuesday after villagers staged a protest demanding completion of a stalled road project.
The hearing, scheduled to be attended by district officials, could not proceed as villagers blocked entry to the Panchayat office. They demanded the immediate resumption of road construction from Purunapani Chhak to Tendara in Sundargarh district via Jhara Kandhal-Gurujang, which had been halted for over six months due to objections from the Forest Department.
Residents said the incomplete road has left the stretch in a broken state, causing severe hardship. Despite repeated appeals to the administration, no progress was made, prompting villagers to oppose the grievance camp.
Officials, including Sub Collector Parikshit Sahu, arrived at the venue in the absence of the District Collector. However, villagers refused to allow proceedings, leading to tension at the site. Police intervened to pacify the crowd, but discussions failed to yield results.
The grievance hearing camps are part of a weekly programme conducted by the district administration every Monday in selected Panchayats. Since Monday was a holiday, the camp was rescheduled for Tuesday in Jhara Kandhal. Villagers insisted that without resolution of the road issue, they would continue to resist such hearings.
