Three tribal remote settlements in Talavadi Hills get tar-topped roads for the first time

Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara (right) inspecting the road work at Kalithimbam settlement in Talavadi Hills in Erode district on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Persistent efforts by the district administration have resulted in three tribal settlements within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Talavadi Hills getting tar-topped roads for the first time.

The hamlets of Mavanatham, Kalithimbam and Ramanarai comprising 90, 75 and 37 families respectively, are located off Dhimbam – Talamalai – Talavadi forest road in Talamalai Panchayat. Single layer water-bound macadam (WBM) roads, laid over 10 years ago, were extensively damaged due to incessant rain, and in the absence of restoration works, the roads became unmotorable. Since commuting on these roads was a nightmare, residents had been demanding for a long time that the roads be re-laid. Although ₹72.62 lakh was sanctioned to re-lay WBM roads under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme 2021-22, the work did not start.

Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara visited these hamlets a year ago, during which residents pointed out the difficulties in commuting. He directed officials to expedite the process, and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department obtained permission from the Forest Department for laying tar-topped roads. The total project cost was ₹2.41 crore (₹1.07 crore for 2 km of roads to Kalithimbam, ₹51.45 lakh for 1.1 km of roads to Ramanarai, and ₹81.86 lakh for 1 km of road to Mavanatham.

All road works are to be completed in a few days as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, during his visit to Erode on December 20, is expected to inaugurate the roads.

Additionally, the road laid by the Forest Department to Bejalatti 30 years ago has suffered extensive damage, with gravel and other rock fragments protruding from the surface, making commuting a challenging task for the residents. The Collector said permission had been obtained for re-laying the four-km damaged road from Bejalatti to Ittarai through Thadasalatti, and restoration work would begin soon.