BERHAMPUR: An aluminium wire, tied across both ends of Rahul river, has been the only support for residents of Kadimaha village under Tumudibandh block in Kandhamal district to cross the raging water body during rainy seasons.
This has been a pressing issue for the villagers since long but the alleged apathy of the local administration in constructing a bridge over the river has left them with no other option. Sources said, over 40 families reside in the village and their only means to reach the other side of the river is to cross it on foot.
While the situation worsens during monsoon, villagers said they have to wade through thigh-deep water carrying their two-wheelers on their shoulders to reach the other side of the river. During rains, the village is entirely cut-off from the rest of the locality.
Fed up with waiting for the administration to come to their aid, villagers said they have since last week begun constructing a temporary wooden bridge to ease communication on the river as the flow of water is now low. But the solution is temporary as the wooden bridge will likely collapse during heavy rains.
Pabitra Digal, a social worker said several mishaps have taken place in the river in the recent past including four drowning incidents, but the local administration is yet to wake up from its slumber and construct a bridge for the convenience of villagers.
“When there is an overflow of water in the river, children have to miss attending classes as their parents are reluctant to cross the raging water body every day to send them to school. While tribal people have proved their mettle in every field, Kadimaha village just has two matriculates as dropout rate here is high,” he rued. He said similar issues are also being faced by residents of over 15 villages under Kotagarh block. Expressing his anguish, Digal said, “Before elections, political leaders and even the district administration gave several false promises but the assurances never materialised.”
Concerning the issue, Tumudibandh block development officer (BDO) BB Harpal said steps would be taken to construct a concrete bridge on Rahul river soon. “The matter would be placed before the district collector,” he added.