Jagargunda in Naxal-hit area to regain past position as Asia's largest tamarind market after completion of road

Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 5 : Following the completion of the Aranpur-Jagargunda road by the security forces with support from the state government, Jagargunda, an insurgency-hit region in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, is all set to regain its past position as Asia's biggest tamarind market.
Speaking with ANI, Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P said, "Earlier, Jagargunda area in Sukma was popular as the biggest market of Asia for the sale of Tamarind, but the market eventually lost its existence due to the rise in Naxal activities."
"Jagargunda area was previously considered as a safe hideout of banned CPI (Maoist) and to break this myth as well as change the situation, an action plan has been launched to link this point from all directions," added the officer.
"With the accomplishment of road works on this stretch, we believe that Jagargunda is going to regain its glorious past of being popular for the sale of forest products," the officer said.
The IG further elaborated that to connect the Jagargunda area from all directions (from north Aranpur-Jagargunda, east Dornapal-Jagargunda, west Awapalli-Jagargunda and Golapalli-Kistaram-Jagargunda from south), works under meticulous planning are being carried out.
Under this project, the Aranpur-Jagargunda road has been completed in the first phase of the task, said the officer, adding that people in the area have also started using this stretch for routine movement.
The road will be helpful in generating employment opportunities for the locals and also become a medium to link the local population with the outer world, said the officer.
Sundarraj further said that locals have started using this road for economic activities, reaching educational institutes and also for availing the healthcare facilities.
"CRPF and police have carried out extensive operations for the construction of this important stretch and several security personnel have sacrificed their lives on the line of duty. It takes around 5-6 years to complete this important road and several new camps (like Kamal post, Kamarguda and other camps) have been established," the officer said.
"Completion of this road has started bearing fruitful results," said the IG.
To prevent any untoward incidents during construction of this road, security forces have carried out extensive demining exercises resulting in recovery of around 56 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), informed that officer and further elaborated that over 26 jawans of the forces have sacrificed their lives while ensuring security to the road construction work.
"Great dedication of security forces resulted in completion of this road," said the IG.
Meanwhile, CRPF DIG Vikas Kataria said the purpose of road construction was not just to aid anti-naxal operations, but also the area's development.
"For the last few years, the construction of the road was not completed and the task was accomplished due to the extra efforts put up by the security personnel," he said.
"Now the resources being provided by the government will reach the area and it would result in all round development," Kataria added.