Visakhapatnam: The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) residing in eleven hilltop villages under the jurisdiction of the Pinakota, Peddakota, and Jinubadu panchayats have formally appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to visit their remote hamlets. The tribal communities have specifically requested the deputy chief minister to visit at least two villages, Rachakilam and Gummanthi, to observe their challenges firsthand.
These eleven hilltop villages in Ananthagiri mandal collectively house approximately 1,500 families. The tribespeople have emphasised the urgent need for improved road infrastructure to facilitate access to essential services, such as ambulances. They have identified the roadworks from Ballagaruvu to Gummanthi via Dayarthi as critical to addressing this issue. Currently, the lack of adequate road connectivity prevents ambulances from reaching Rachakilam village.
When it was announced that Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan would visit the region, ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar initially considered organising a public meeting for the deputy chief minister at Gummanthi village. However, due to insufficient road access, the meeting venue was relocated to Ballagoruvu village, where authorities laid a BT road to accommodate the event.
Despite the venue change, tribal leaders from the eleven hilltop villages have reiterated their request for Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to visit their communities. They believe that by touring Rachakilam and Gummanthi, the deputy chief minister will gain a comprehensive understanding of their circumstances and the pressing need for road construction. Additionally, the tribal representatives have urged the deputy chief minister to instruct ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar, ITDA project officer V. Abhishek, and other senior officials to prioritise road infrastructure development in their villages.
