KRISHNAGIRI: Residents from seven villages in Kottakolam panchayat in Krishnagiri districts, along with school students in uniform, blocked the Dharmapuri–Kallavi state highway on Monday, demanding essential facilities including proper roads, bus connectivity and drinking water.The road blockade was held by people from Sengalneerpatti, Solaiyur, Settippatti, Kottakolam, Vairampatti, Naganur and Krishnapuram villages. They stated that the four-kilometre Kallavi link road connecting the villages had not been maintained for a long time, and it had deteriorated badly, with numerous potholes. “Due to the poor condition of the road, buses stopped services to the locality,” said K Ranjith Kumar, a villager.Students have to walk several kilometres to attend school and college. Residents pointed to the problems during medical emergencies, saying ambulances and other vehicles often refuse to use the damaged stretch. Pregnant women, older residents and patients are frequently carried up to the main road. They added that the area had been experiencing acute drinking water scarcity for months, even after repeated representations to the panchayat authorities.Upset over what they described as continued neglect, they sat on the busy highway, shouting slogans. The blockade halted traffic for two hours, leaving buses, trucks and two-wheelers stuck on both sides.Uthangarai and Kallavi police along with officials from the highways department arrived at the location and held discussions with protesters. The officials said the damaged road would be repaired, drinking water supply would be reinstated and bus services for students would be arranged by taking the issue with higher authorities.Following these assurances, the protesters ended the blockade, and traffic resumed. They warned that if the commitments were not implemented quickly, they would intensify their protest by besieging the district collector’s office.
