OP AGNIHOTRI/Haldwani
The late Narayan Dutt Tiwari is credited for the formation of Noida along with various development works in Uttarakhand during his tenure as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and then of Uttarakhand. However, his paternal village in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand has remained without access to a motor road, causing its residents to migrate to the plains.
Tiwari still holds the record for being the only CM of Uttarakhand who served the full five year term. Earlier, Noida was formed during his tenure as the UP CM. Later in Uttarakhand, he was instrumental in initiating industrial development with the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL) being established during his term as the CM. However, his native village has remained without a road connection despite the work being approved years ago. Called the ‘Vikas Purush’ in Uttarakhand across political lines, Tiwari hailed from the hamlet of Kurai Bameta village in the Dhari block of Nainital district. During 1982, Tiwari was instrumental in facilitating the alignment of the road and cutting from Padampuri to Bhawali for an alternative road. The cutting and initial construction was done upto Maheshkhan but the asphaltisation was done upto Kwira and Banlekhi villages, about seven kilometres away from Tiwari’s village. The villagers state that the Public Works Department is not completing the work stating that the area in question is not under its purview. In the mountainous areas of Uttarakhand where villagers distant from roadheads still trudge many kilometres as a routine and even in emergencies, the locals state that the incomplete road project has caused many villagers to migrate. The absence of the road affects employment, tourism, agricultural activities and also basics like health and education. Ironically, the village of the man responsible for major developments in the National Capital Region and Uttarakhand is suffering the impact of official apathy. Villagers state that due to the lack of the road and basic facilities about 250 families have migrated to Haldwani and Lalkuan. There are about 50 members of 15 families still living in the village where the houses are spread across a wide area. Villager Pramod Bameta, who migrated from the village to Halduchaur area said that villagers like him visit the village during ritual worship of the village deity. However, the absence of a road causes major problems for the villagers.
