Rayagada: Villagers of six gram panchayats depend on a bamboo raft to cross the river Kalyani, after a temporary bridge they had built across the river was washed away in flood July 12, 2018.
According to reports, a bridge which was constructed across the river was washed away in a heavy flood July 16, 2017. Following this, the residents of the six panchayats had to suffer a lot. The villagers took up the matter with the local administration, but to no avail.
With no help coming from the administration, the inhabitants set up a temporary bridge. However, that bridge also washed away in the July flood this year.
Under this situation, the worst sufferers are patients, women and schoolchildren. The residents of Parsali, Sunakhandi, Pujariguda, Polma, Kandhakatipadu and Majhiguda panchayats have to cross the river on a bamboo raft to reach Kalyansinghpur for their daily needs.
Moreover, farmers, including women, who want to sell their farm produce, have to cross the river with the help the raft.
As the administration has failed to build a bridge across the river, the villagers have made the bamboo raft. At a time 10-12 persons are crossing the river using the raft, but it is risky, said a villager.
The worst suffers are the Dongria Kondhs, living on the other side of the river.
District Collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Sub-Collector Sudhakar Sabaro and the Regional Transport Officer Dillip Kumar Dalai banned the transportation after finding it dangerous, during a presser held July 20 this year.
Nevertheless, the administration assured the villagers to run a bus for them. Initially, the administration ran a four-wheeler but it stopped the service after two-three days.
Finding no other way, the villagers again started using the bamboo raft despite prohibition. At present, the villagers, including students and patients, are crossing the river on the bamboo raft to go to schools and hospitals.
The locals have alleged that they have been appealing to the administration to build a bridge across the river but in vain.
More than one year has passed but the administration is yet to construct a permanent bridge as the tender process is yet to be closed.
Sub-collector Sabaro said he would take up the matter with the Collector and further action would be taken according to the latter’s directions.
PNN
