Coimbatore: The State Government has passed an order allocating Rs.47 crores to repair the Velliangadu-Manjoor road which has been a long pending demand of the tribals living around the area.
Coimbatore: The State Government has passed an order allocating Rs.47 crores to repair the Velliangadu-Manjoor road which has been a long pending demand of the tribals living around the area.
More than 5,000 tribals reside at Pillur forest region on the Western ghats near Mettupalayam. More than 20 tribal villages including Gundoor, Mulli, Kootappati, Kombani and Aththikadavu are situated in this area. The road leading to these villages have been damaged completed, with potholes all over. The road which was laid 40 years ago has been inaccessible even for two-wheelers.
Apart from locals, forest officials and TNEB employees need to take this route to reach Pillur and Kundha water power stations. Apart from this, in the event of landslides on the Mettupalayam-Ooty route, vehicles are diverted to this route to reach Ooty.
The tribals residing in the area have been requesting for repairs of the road, for over 25 years now. The State Government has finally heeded their long pending demand and allocated Rs.47 crores to repair the Velliangadu-Manjoor road. Rs.22 crores has been allocated to carry out the road-laying work from Velliangadu till Perumpallam and Rs.25 crores for repair work to be carried out from Perumpallam till Manjoor, for which the State government had announced tenders. It is reported that the tribals are overjoyed at the announcement.