Villagers near backwater of Bhavani river left with no connectivity

Meanwhile, official of district administration said that they had arranged temporary boat with the support of forest department for the people to cross the place temporary period.

COIMBATORE: People who are residing at four villages in Kanthaiyur, Kandhavayal and Uliyur near Bhavani dam's back water catchment area are not able to come out their villages since a bridge constructed for facilitating them to cross Bhavani river has submerged into river water. Due to submerging of bridge, the people in those villages have been left without any connectivity from their villages.

Whenever, inflow to the Bhavani dam increases, people in those villages near to the dam were getting struggle to reach to villages as well as come out from there since road leads to their places used to get submerge near Lingapuram village in the bhavani river water which comes from Pillur dam. To address the issue, based on the people requisitions, road over bridge was constructed near Lingapuram village by the state government in 2003 - 2004.

Though, the bridge was constructed to facilitate the people in those village to cross the Bhavani river, recent rain and subsequent of flood has fully inundated the bridge on Wednesday. Due to submerge of the bridge, now people in the three villages are used to cross the bridge in the river water by walk. The river water has raised upto their hip when they were walking on the bridge on Wednesday.

"Since, water in the river gets increasing due to heavy rain in western ghats and subsequent releasing of water from Pillur dam, it would be not possible to even walk on the bridge in coming days," the villagers grieved.

M Thirumugam of Kanthiyur village, said, "After our longstanding demand, the bridge was constructed but without giving proper height. Due to the unscientific implementation, the bridge was submerged as same like now when the river water had got increased few years ago. Since then, we are demanding to increase height of the bridge. But, our demand went vain. Now again we are facing similar situation."

He said that if they wanted to use alternate route they had needed to detour for 10 km through forest land. "During night time, it will be difficult to use the route due to wild animals movement," he said and demanded that on the war foot way, district administration should make alternate to cross the place.

Meanwhile, official of district administration said that they had arranged temporary boat with the support of forest department for the people to cross the place temporary period. They assured the villagers work on heightening of the bridge would be taken up after decreasing of water level in the place.
 

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