Bargi Dam Displaced Families Build Road After 35 Years of Neglect
Nearly 35 years after displacement by the Bargi Dam project, over 100 women, 50 men and 25 children from Durganagar in Shahpura district, Madhya Pradesh, have begun voluntary repairs on a 2-km muddy road connecting to Chirpodi. The approximately 1,200 residents, resettled from Jabalpur, Mandla and Seoni districts, are arranging gravel and stones with their own resources to create a temporary path for the rainy season.
The poor road has severely impacted village life. The primary school building was demolished five years ago; classes now run from a cramped additional room. Children cannot reach schools in Chirpodi during monsoons. No ambulance or emergency vehicle can access the village, forcing pregnant women to stay with relatives elsewhere for delivery. The village also lacks a proper drinking water system, with residents purchasing water from private bores for ₹100 per transaction.
Local administration claims Durganagar lacks full village status, denying it formal infrastructure support. District Panchayat member Ramkumar Saiyaam said he raised the road issue multiple times with district panchayat CEO Abhishek Gehlot without concrete response. The Paili Tap Water Project, initially scheduled for 2024 completion, now has a 2027 deadline.
