Millions Spent, Yet Plagued by Neglect Approach Road to Dariyapur Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan in Shahkund Turns into a Muddy Swamp; Connectivity from Main Road Severed, Resentment Brews Among Villagers
Shahkund/Bhagalpur: The Panchayat Sarkar Bhawans, often heralded as the backbone of rural development and a vital component of the government's ambitious schemes, are currently narrating a tragic tale of dilapidated conditions and administrative apathy. The situation in the Dariyapur Panchayat, falling under the Shahkund block of Bhagalpur district, mirrors this very grim reality. While a magnificent Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan has been constructed at the cost of millions of rupees to facilitate the public, there is absolutely no trace of a proper paved approach road leading up to it. The harsh reality on the ground is that following even a mild spell of rain or minor waterlogging, this entire route transforms into a muddy and perilously slippery swamp. This has made it nearly impossible for public representatives, panchayat workers, and ordinary villagers arriving from far-flung areas for urgent administrative tasks to even walk. A deep sense of anger and resentment prevails among local residents and intellectuals against the administration concerning this grave issue.
A Towering Edifice of Development on Paper: A Picture of Neglect on the Ground
The primary objective of the state government was to provide citizens with all essential government services—such as caste, residential, and income certificates, old-age pensions, and direct access to the Mukhiya (village head) and Panchayat Secretary—under a single roof right at the panchayat level. It was with this grand vision that the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan was constructed in Dariyapur:
A Grand Building, A Wretched Path: Built at a cost of millions, this multi-story building looks magnificent from the outside. However, the bitter irony is that there is no accessible approach road to reach this lavish administrative structure.
An Empire of Mud and Waterlogging: The connecting road linking the main street to the Panchayat Bhawan is entirely unpaved, uneven, and riddled with deep potholes. With just a brief shower, this pathway morphs into a treacherous marshland, where not only driving a vehicle but even walking on foot is fraught with severe risks.
Mounting Hardships for the General Public and the Elderly
The rural populace of the Dariyapur Panchayat is compelled to reach this building to execute their day-to-day administrative tasks, but owing to the pathetic condition of the road, they are being forced to endure immense humiliation and hardship:
Helplessness of Women and Senior Citizens: For the elderly and women coming to verify their pensions or enroll in other government schemes, crossing this mud-slicked path is nothing short of a trial by fire. There have been multiple instances where people have slipped, fallen, and sustained painful physical injuries.
The Plight of Bicyclists and Motorcyclists: For two-wheeler riders, this route becomes virtually inaccessible. Motorcycle wheels get severely bogged down in the thick slush, leaving people with no option but to dismount and drag their heavy vehicles through the mud with sheer physical force.
Millions Exhausted, Yet No One to Take Cognizance
Villagers allege that government funds were seemingly utilized only to erect the concrete walls of the building, while fundamental infrastructural necessities like an approach road, drainage systems, and basic sanitation have been blatantly ignored:
Administrative Apathy: The local residents have lodged multiple complaints regarding the deplorable state of this road with the block administration and concerned higher officials. However, every time, they have been turned away with hollow assurances and empty promises.
Questions Over the BPRO's Working Style: There is massive outrage among the panchayat residents directed toward the Block Panchayati Raj Officer (BPRO) and local public representatives over this entire fiasco. The villagers firmly assert that until a proper road is constructed, the actual benefits of this multi-purpose public building will never reach the masses.
The crisis of this muddy and dilapidated approach road leading to the Dariyapur Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan has raised massive question marks over the execution and monitoring of government schemes. If concrete steps are not initiated in this direction well within time, this building—built at a colossal expense of millions—will merely stand as a useless white elephant. The local villagers have fervently demanded that the district administration take immediate cognizance of the matter and order the rapid construction and paving of this connecting road. This urgent intervention is required so that the general public can be liberated from this hellish ordeal and the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan can truly fulfill its intended purpose of serving the rural populace.
