Uttarkashi Village Residents Endure Hardships as Road Project Stalls for Nearly a Decade
Residents of Seva village in Mori tehsil, Uttarkashi district, continue to face severe difficulties due to the absence of basic amenities and proper road connectivity. A long-pending road project that was initiated almost ten years ago remains incomplete, leaving the community in a state of neglect and isolation.
Dependence on Neighboring State for Essential Services
Located near the Himachal Pradesh border, Seva village currently relies heavily on the neighboring state for access to essential services. While a road connecting Seva to Himachal Pradesh has been constructed, Uttarakhand's proposed 11-kilometer road linking Seva to Dhaula has seen minimal progress despite construction beginning nearly a decade ago.
Village leaders Kamla Devi, Kaku Fauzian, and Praveen Fauzian revealed that initial work on a footpath between Dhaula and Seva was started but halted after only two to three kilometers were completed. This has left the village with inadequate infrastructure for daily needs and emergencies.
Daily Struggles and Life-Threatening Situations
The lack of proper road connectivity forces villagers to walk long distances to access government services, according to Kamla Devi. She explained that residents must cross the damaged Runata drain via a precarious footpath, putting their lives at risk with every journey.
"During medical emergencies, the situation becomes critical," Kamla Devi stated. "Recently, when a woman's condition worsened, villagers had to carry her on their shoulders all the way to Himachal Pradesh for treatment. This is the reality we face due to the incomplete road project."
Impact on Nearby Communities and Seasonal Challenges
Deepak Chauhan, a resident of nearby Dodra Kwar in Himachal Pradesh, highlighted how the connectivity issue affects multiple communities. "The lack of proper roads causes daily hardship for everyone in the region," he said. "This becomes especially challenging during winter months when the Changseel route is closed due to heavy snowfall. If the road from Dhaula to Seva is finally constructed, it will benefit residents of Dodra Kwar as well."
Official Response and Administrative Hurdles
Subhash Kumar, assistant engineer with PMGSY Purola, provided insight into why the project has stalled. "A survey for the proposed road has been completed, but construction cannot proceed due to pending forest land transfer approvals," he explained. "Once the necessary forest clearance is obtained, we can prepare the detailed project report and begin construction work. Until then, the project remains in limbo."
The situation in Seva village represents a broader challenge facing rural development in Uttarakhand, where administrative delays and bureaucratic hurdles continue to impact community welfare and access to basic infrastructure.
