Activists Chant ‘Salutations to the Pothole’ in Symbolic Dig at Officials
Key Points:
- JLKM leader Ashish Mahto worships potholes on Baliapur-Dhanbad road
- Rainwater-logged craters spark unusual public protest
- Mahto warns of intensified agitation if repairs are not started
DHANBAD – A JLKM leader staged an unusual protest on Friday, performing ritual worship of rain-filled potholes on the Baliapur-Dhanbad main road to highlight the route’s dilapidated condition. The demonstration came after residents grew increasingly frustrated with waterlogging and hazardous craters along the stretch.
Ashish Mahto, dressed in the attire of a priest, conducted the mock puja in the middle of the road as a pointed message to elected representatives and administrative officials. He chanted mantras invoking the potholes rather than deities, a gesture meant to underline what he called official indifference toward the road’s condition.
The Baliapur-Dhanbad corridor has reportedly tested residents’ patience for years. However, the situation worsened considerably after recent rains left the road pockmarked with water-filled pits, making travel treacherous for commuters and vehicles alike.
Mahto said the road has remained in a state of disrepair for years, with promises of restoration never translating into actual work. “The authorities keep assuring us of repairs, but nothing moves beyond paperwork,” he said. He further cautioned that if construction work does not begin soon, the protest movement would be intensified.
Meanwhile, the demonstration has drawn attention back to the broader problem of poor road infrastructure across the district. Residents echoed similar frustrations, noting that the potholed stretch has become a daily hazard during the monsoon season. Besides causing delays, the waterlogged craters have also raised safety concerns for two-wheeler riders navigating the corridor.
The protest is being seen as a symbolic challenge to authorities, with the chant “Om Janpratinidhiyon ki Swaha, Gaddhe ko Namah” mocking the inaction of public representatives. It remains to be seen whether the theatrical gesture will translate into any concrete administrative response.
Similar road safety complaints have surfaced elsewhere in the region in recent days. A speeding vehicle accident in Chakradharpur has renewed calls for stricter road maintenance oversight. In other parts of Jharkhand, villagers have likewise turned to unconventional means of protest and appeal amid administrative apathy. Officials have also faced scrutiny over stalled infrastructure work, as seen when dozens of development projects remained stalled despite foundation stones being laid months earlier. Similar unrest was reported when worker unions warned of agitation over unresolved grievances. The episode also follows a pattern of civic frustration seen in Dhanbad in past months.
