MEERUT: Despite repeated protests from local residents and opposition parties, the UP administration hasn’t done anything to repair pothole-ridden roads. On Wednesday, residents in Meerut prepared a boat out of large tubes to sail through the heavily waterlogged Rohta road. A large number of schoolchildren got on board so that their uniform and books are not spoiled. Earlier, residents had sown paddy on potholed roads to protest against the government apathy.“We have been protesting relentlessly to get a pucca road constructed here, but the authorities haven’t done anything so far. Tired of waiting, the residents on Wednesday decided to prepare a tube-boat to sail through the heavily waterlogged stretch. The boat was prepared by attaching a ladder atop the tube so that there is some space to sit,” said Dushyant Rohta, president, Jan Kalyan Welfare Society.Local residents had earlier sown paddy in the waterlogged potholes on Rohta road. When their demand was not heeded, they protested with ‘sleeping’ local MLA and MP on beds and showed banners which read ‘Bhaiyon yahan horn bajana va shor machana sakht mana ai. Yahan hamare priye saansad va vidhayak so rahe hain. Shaanti banaye rakhein’ (Honking and making noise is not allowed here. Here, our MLA and MP are sleeping. Please maintain silence). The banners had pictures of Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal and Meerut Cantt MLA Satyaprakash Agarwal.It should be noted that Meerut’s Rohta road has been in a bad shape for the last two years, making it difficult for commuters to pass through the stretch. Despite repeated protests, no action has been taken by the authorities. “It is sad that despite repeated complaints and protest, the government authorities and our MLA and MP are doing nothing to solve the people’s problems,” said Arun Malik, vice-president, Jan Kalyan Welfare Society.Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal had earlier said, “There is no button that I can press and get the road constructed. Things take time and go through a certain procedure. We have already floated a proposal of Rs 20.65 crore for the road, but due to some departmental problems, it couldn’t get a green signal. I have also informed deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya about the matter and I expect a solution from his side very soon. The residents need to be patient and wait for a decision to be taken in the matter.”

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