File photo of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath

MEERUT: Blowing up Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath 's claim of 'pothole-free' roads, residents of Meerut got together to sow paddy in a potholed, waterlogged road in the city on Thursday. A section of Rohta road with a huge pothole has become a nightmare for the residents here after it became a pool-like structure during the monsoon .

On Thursday, residents living on both sides of the stretch got together, sowed crop in the waterlogged road and put up a banner with pictures of Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal and MLA Satyaprakash Agarwal. The banner read: " Hum toh bade hain nakaara. Dhaan tumhaari, paani humara. Dekho ye hai hamara Rohta road par sabka saath, sabka vikas (we are very useless. Your grain, our water. See, this is our sabka sath, sabka vikas on Rohta road)."

CM Yogi had claimed in April last year that the states streets would be free of potholes by June 15.

Dushyant Rohta, president, Jan Kalyan Welfare Society, said, "We made repeated complaints to the local MLA and MP. But these fell on deaf ears. I am a supporter of BJP but I didn't expect this kind of 'vikas' under their rule."

"The road has been in total disrepair for almost two years now... During monsoon, the road becomes a threat to our safety," said Pramod Kumar, a resident.

Talking to TOI, Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal said, "I am very much aware about the problem of Rohta road. Residents have every right to protest and I would say nothing against that."

He added, "However, we have already passed 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."

