PARADIP: Dhinkia panchayat paints a picture of neglect. Comprising revenue villages of Dhinkia, Gobindapur and Trilochanpur, the panchayat is surrounded by Paradip refinery project of IOCL and other small industrial projects. However, the panchayat does not have motorable roads and health service is ailing sans doctors. The panchayat was once the epicentre of anti-industry agitation. The two-km road stretch from Trilochanpur to Dhinkia is an example of administrative negligence.
Considered the lifeline of the panchayat, the road has turned into a death trap. Replete with potholes, it was severely damaged during recent rain but the local administration is yet to repair it. The road was constructed under MGNREGS. In the absence of a motorable road, the 102 and 108 ambulance services fail to reach the villages.
The Health and Family Welfare department had set up a primary health centre (PHC) at Dhinkia in 2000 to cater to healthcare needs of 50,000 people of the area. The lone doctor post in the PHC is vacant for the last three years. Even as basic amenities are still a far cry for people residing in the panchayat, industrial pollution is a major concern for them today. The release of chemical effluent and toxic waste has given rise to various ailments among the locals. Block Development Officer, Erasama, Kailash Behera said IOCL will be approached for reconstruction of Trilochanpur- Dhinkia road.