In Betadih village of Barhani block, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, a road meant to connect a Dalit colony to the main road has been left incomplete because of a land dispute. The Public Works Department (PWD) had started construction three months ago, and while 925 meters of the one-kilometer road have been built, the remaining 50 meters are stuck after a local resident claimed the land as his personal property.
Residents say the unfinished stretch has cut off the colony, leaving the Dalit community to struggle. Village head Bablu Gautam said the road is crucial for daily movement. Villagers like Ramdular Ram and Sarvjit Kharwar pointed out that the path has been in public use for nearly 40 years and was even repaired earlier by the Gram Panchayat.
However, PWD Junior Engineer Dinesh Chaurasia explained that the department cannot build on land under dispute. “The remaining part of the road will be completed only after the matter is resolved,” he said.
Many villagers see the halt in construction as a case of intimidation and discrimination against the Dalit community. “This is nothing but bullying. The government must intervene and complete the road without delay,” one resident said.
Locals have urged the administration to hold an impartial inquiry and ensure that the road work is finished quickly so that the Dalit colony is not left cut off from the rest of the village.
