KORAPUT: Residents of cut-off villages here are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If they don't avail rice under Rs 2-a-kg scheme they can't run their family if they avail rice they can't take the quota home in the absence of transport facilities. According to reports, about 800 BPL and APL households of Narjiput, Semla, Panasput, Kechla, Paidaput, Ratmatiguda, Girlaguda and Gulelput villages under Lankaput panchayat are residing in the cut-off areas and receiving their rice quota from Koraput block office situated across Kolab reservoir. This practice has been going on more than 10 years. Earlier as the rice was available at Rs 6.25 a kg, the beneficiaries were taking less quantity and the boatman was allowing transportation of the stuff through boat. Now with rice available at Rs 2 a kg the beneficiaries are availing the full quota of 25 kg but the boatman is not allowing ferrying of such a heavy quantity through boat. If at all they are forcing the boatman to ferry rice there is every chance of meeting with mishaps. Moreover, there is only a single boat available and this runs only on Sundays. Transportation of rice may lead to loss of life at any movement, said Hari Jania, a villager of Semla. A resident Kechela village Arjun Muduli said the government will be held responsible in case any accident takes place while transporting rice through country boats. The villagers alleged that despite repeated reminders neither the administration is facilitating rice at the villages nor providing regular motor boat facilities. Koraput BDO Narayan Murmu admitted the difficulties but he said he can't change the distribution practice as it was introduce earlier. Contacted, Collector Balakrushna Sahoo said the present distribution practice will be stopped next year. He said he would see to it that rice is stocked in each cut-off village before rainy season.