Nabarangpur: Pitaguda villagers at Nandahandi block in the district alleged that funds allocated for a road project at their village had been diverted for the construction of another road.

Demanding immediate construction of a road to their village, the local residents have threatened to launch an agitation.

The villagers said the district planning and monitoring unit under the Biju KBK Yojana had sanctioned funds for construction of around 2km road from Podalguda to Teliguda during the 2016-17 fiscal, and the public works department was supposed to execute it.

However, in spite of constructing the sanctioned road, the executing department has constructed a 700-metre road from Podalguda, where the police superintendent's office is located, to a skill development centre near Mangalaguda, alleged the villagers.

"Construction of a road to our village was a long-standing demand, as in rains, villagers have to struggle to reach Nabarangpur town through the muddy road," said Teliguda villager Lingaraj Sahu.

"Also, it's a nightmare to shift patients to hospital in rainy days as often ambulance fails to reach the village," he added.

"Though survey had been conducted, the officials concerned diverted the funds for the construction of another road. If our village is not connected with a pucca road at the earliest, we will resort to agitation," he said.

Works executive engineer (Nabarangpur) Pradeep Kumar Samal said: "In consultation with the planning unit, the road - for which funds had been allocated - was constructed. We have constructed a 700-metre road with a budget of Rs 35 lakh."

"If more funds are allocated, the road to Pitaguda will be built," he said.

However, district planning officer (Nabarangpur) Sridhar Sethi said: "As the funds had been allocated for the Podalguda-Teliguda road, the executing department can divert it at no cost. The funds should have been used for the road it was sanctioned for."

Admitting that he had received the complaint from Pitaguda villagers, district planning board chairperson Manohar Randhari said: "Based on the Pitaguda villagers' demand, the project had been sanctioned. The matter will be inquired."

"Efforts will be taken up to ensure that the Pitaguda village gets a pucca road prior to the monsoon," he said.