Boat service to cut-off areas of Chitrakonda suspended as drivers go on strike

Malkangiri: The motor launch services to the water-locked areas of the Chitrakonda reservoir in Malkangiri district was suspended with the drivers resorting to cease-work agitation demanding regularisation of jobs and a regular salary.

Due to the cease-work agitation, nearly 25,000 people of seven Gram Panchayats in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda were unable to reach the mainland.

The motor launches are the only modes of transportation to the area cut-off area.

The drivers alleged that though there were assured by the district administration on several occasions, nothing tangible has happened as yet forcing them to resort to suspension boat service.

However, the administration is trying hard to persuade the agitating drivers to resume boat communication to the cutoff area of Chitrakonda reservoir as early as possible as it happens to be a major Naxal-infested area on Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border.

Earlier in 2010, the launch drivers too resorted to agitation demanding an adequate number of motor launches for transportation to the cut-off area, electrification of these water-locked villages, health and educational facilities and proper road communication.