SURIN: The people of Khok Pued village in Sangkhla district have got suffered for decades, dependent on the single muddy and potholed dirt road that links their village towards the rest of the world.
They say that will despite repeated requests the road has never been upgraded, or even repaired.
They have finally run out of tolerance and on Friday took their misery to local media, pleading for help.
The road may be the only way the particular 125 households with Kok Pued in tambon Ban Jarn can get to downtown Sangkhla district.
During the rainy season, road incidents are frequent. Automobiles taking people to get medical treatment must gradually make their way along the treacherous road. Pregnant women get there late at hospitals; some end up giving birth along the way.
About 15 representatives on Friday directed local reporters across the dirt road, that was filled with potholes. Local people had utilized their own farm tools to make what maintenance they could to the road surface before the damp season arrived.
They want authorities to allocate a budget for repairs towards the road, and actually have the work done.
Spokeswoman Oranee Rime, 29, said she had lived there along with her grandparents since she was 14. The road had never ever been improved. it had been always in bad condition. The village was about 3 kms from the Sangkhla-Chom Phra Road, but it got more than a half an hour going the horrendous street.
Throughout rainy season it was at its most severe – slippery and muddy, rutted plus potholed. There were many accidents. She could hardly see any even surface, she said.
7 months ago, the girl accompanied a pregnant relative on a pickup truck to give birth at Sangkhla Hospital. Bad road conditions made it hard for the automobile to take her in accordance with the hospital in time. The woman had to give birth along the road, she said.
Most students rode motorcycles to school. When it rained they arrived at school along with mud all over their particular uniforms.
Residents had frequently asked the tambon administration organisation about repairs to the road, but always obtained the same answer. “Waiting for a budget. Simply no budget’’, said Microsoft Oranee.
She and other inhabitants wondered why nearby villages had concrete roads or pavement through their paddy fields, while her village had been neglected.
Wilai Singkhawehol 42, mentioned he had lived at Khok Pued since he was born as well as the road had always been in this condition. Many vehicles used the road to go to Sangkhla but no improvements were ever made.
He had twice taken pregnant women in the pickup truck to give birth at hospital. One woman almost got her baby along the way, and the other woman gave birth in his vehicle. He could not drive fast enough to get them to hospital in time because of the condition of the road.
Khemmikar Saendee, 8, a Prathom Suksa 2 pupil at Ban Jarn School, about five kilometres from the village, said her grandfather takes her to school in the motorcycle, which slips and slides alarmingly when it rains.
Itthiphon Ruamphattana, chairman of Ban Jan tambon administration organisation said the TAO’s 300, 000-baht proposal to pave the road with gravel had been authorized. Construction of the 1st 2 . 5 kilometres would start immediately after the rainy season.
The main road out of Khok Pued village in Sangkhla district, Surin. (Clip: Nopparat Kingkaew)