Portuguese 
Spanish 
Govinda Malekudiya, 56 years old, opened and maintains half a kilometer of dirt road in Peradka, India, using only a pickaxe and shovel, while the promised paving remains pending
For over a year, Govinda Malekudiya, 56, has been repairing alone half a kilometer of dirt road in Peradka, in the gram panchayat of Mala, in the taluk of Karkala. Without effective response from the authorities, he opened a passable stretch, made basic drainage, and benefited about 25 families from the ST colony.
Dirt road was opened with pickaxe and shovel
Govinda decided to take action after repeated requests to local authorities did not result in the construction of the road for the ST colony. Using only a pickaxe and a shovel, he made the dirt stretch accessible for vehicles.
In addition to opening the road, he also created basic drainage to reduce flooding during the monsoons. The measure serves residents who depend on access through the Peradka region.
-
Cold War Secret Plane Lost Engine Mid-Flight, Forcing Six to Parachute in Darkness; Wreckage Remains in Death Valley Mountains 73 Years Later
-
Opened in 1980, Shopping Recife was Pernambuco’s first mall and helped transform Boa Viagem into a bustling and sought-after district in southern Recife.
-
Tired of Monthly Water Supply, South African Villagers in Limpopo Connect Mountain Spring to Taps, Bringing Water to 5,000 People with $700 Initiative
-
Rare Case of Neurocysticercosis in Spain: 60-Year-Old Man’s Suspected Brain Cancer Turns Out to Be Tapeworm Cysts, Avoiding Invasive Cancer Treatments
Case reached Lokayukta, but work did not proceed
Environmental activist Arathi Ashok told TOI that the issue was highlighted by the media and brought to the attention of the Lokayukta. The body advised the panchayat and the social welfare department to take action.
Even so, according to her, no road has been built for the ST colony so far. Arathi also said she filed an RTI request seeking a response but received no reply.
Paving remains pending
Arathi also reported that after approaching the Lokayukta, there was guidance to repair about 200 meters of the road from ward no. 1 to Bugatugundi.
The stretch was widened with an excavator, but the paving is still pending.
The panchayat development officer, Srinivas S, confirmed that the asphalting has not yet been done.
He stated that those responsible will be held accountable and that the panchayat will try to seek resources through the Integrated Tribal Development Project, the ITDP.
Former Day Laborer Also Plants Seedlings in the Region
Govinda worked as a day laborer for almost 30 years and left the job during Covid-19 to dedicate himself to the cause. As a farmer, he also planted more than 50 seedlings.
His intention is to plant more along the Sringeri-Mala-Bajagoli road, as part of his environmental conservation efforts.
This article was prepared based on information from TOI, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.
