ASR Tribals Protest Over Roadlessness, Carry Dolis to Demand Connectivity

Tribal residents of Tokuru panchayat in Anantagiri mandal of Alluri Sitharama Raju district staged a protest on Thursday, demanding immediate construction of a road to their villages, citing prolonged neglect despite repeated representations over the years.

Under the aegis of the Adivasi Girijana Sangham, villagers from Chittampadu, Nandanapuram, and Kothavalasa carried ‘dolis’ (makeshift stretchers) during their protest to highlight the lack of road connectivity and their continued dependence on manual transport.

They demanded construction of a kuccha road from Rayavalasa to Nandanapuram and Kothavalasa via the Chittampadu waterfalls stretch, stating that the route is essential for daily mobility as well as emergency medical access.

Former Tokuru sarpanch Killo Mosya said the area, despite serving as an access route to the Chittampadu waterfalls, has long remained deprived of basic road infrastructure. He said a representation was earlier submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan during his visit to Araku, seeking approval for the road project.

Residents said the absence of road access has been causing serious difficulties during medical emergencies, forcing patients, including pregnant women, to be carried on dolis to reach hospitals. They urged the district administration and elected representatives to sanction the road without further delay, warning of intensified agitation if their demand is ignored.

The protest was attended by CPM leaders Gemmela Devanna, Somela Nagulu, and Gemmela Bhimaraju, along with village elders, PESA committee members, and a large number of villagers.