A proper 11-km road connecting Pettimudy in Munnar to Societykudy — the base camp of the State’s first tribal panchayat at Edamalakkudy — remains a distant dream for local tribespeople, despite government funds being allocated four years ago.

According to officials, the State Tribal department allotted ₹13.70 crore in 2022 for the 7.2-km stretch from Pettimudy to Edaliparakudy. Another ₹4.75 crore was sanctioned for the over 3-km stretch from Edaliparakudy to Societykudy. However, four years later, the work remains incomplete. As a result, residents are still forced to shell out nearly ₹5,000 per trip to reach Munnar using Multi-Utility Vehicles (MUVs).

Edamalakkudy panchayat president Binu.M stated that even a 1.35-km section of the first phase (Pettimudy to Edaliparakkudy) is yet to be finished. “The next phase hasn’t even begun. The panchayat now plans to construct the Edaliparakudy-Societykudy road using our own funds,” Mr Binu said. “When the monsoon season starts, the road turns into a muddy swamp, making travel a massive hurdle. Anyone trying to reach Munnar from Societykudy has to pay ₹4,500 for an MUV.” He said.

Crippling daily life

Sources state that the authorities’ failure to complete the 11-km road over the last four years is severely crippling the community. “The lack of proper road connectivity is badly affecting the education and emergency medical care of the tribal community in the panchayat,” a source said.

A Public Works department (PWD) official confirmed he has reported the issue to the Executive Engineer, noting that the contractor has failed to resume work on the remaining 1.35-kilometre stretch. “We will take further steps based on directives from higher authorities. For the second phase from Edaliparakkudy to Societykudy, the Tribal department has not yet submitted the required sanctions,” the official claimed.

Meanwhile, Tribal department officials stated that the PWD never informed them that the contractor had halted work. “Out of the ₹13.70 crore, the Tribal department handed over ₹12.43 crore for the first phase, yet 1.35 kilometres remain pending. For the second phase, we have already obtained clearance from the Forest department and permission from the Kanan Devan Hills Company (KDHP) to transport vehicles and goods. An agreement has also been formed to begin the Edaliparakudy-Societykudy stretch using a portion of the ₹4.75 crore budget. We have submitted a letter to the Munnar DFO requesting permission to transport goods through the Eravikulam National Park and are awaiting a reply,” a department official explained.

However, sources within the Tribal department revealed that the PWD is now demanding a revised, higher estimate for the project. “The funds were already allocated. If the cost needs to be increased, we will have to get fresh approval from the government,” the source added.

Munnar Range Officer S. Biju confirmed that the Forest department has already granted the necessary clearances for the second phase of the road construction.