Jhumpura: The state government lays stress on rural connectivity in riparian areas through the Biju Setu Yojana. Crores of rupees are spent for the bridges across these rivers.
However, one such project is nowhere near completion even four years after its construction in remote hilly area like Jhumpura of Keonjhar district, a report said.
According to the report, thousands of people living in Malda and Basantpur panchayats under Jumpura block and Phuljhar panchayat under Bansapani block have been suffering commuting woes in the absence of a bridge across the Baitarani. They have to wade through river water when a diversion road gets washed away.
Taking the commuting plight of the people into account, the state government wanted to set up the bridge in 2016 under the Biju Setu Yojana. An outlay of Rs 9.11 crore was made.
The rural development department floated a tender for the bridge project. It was started April 5, 2016 and was to be completed by April 4, 2018. Locals said four years have passed since its construction was undertaken, but it has been abandoned by the contractor.
“A diversion road has been built through the river and people commute on it with difficulties. In rainy season, the diversion road in the riverbed gets washed away, leaving people in difficulties,” locals lamented.
People along with bicycles and bikes are often seen wading through river water. People of Patakudar and Basantpur had approached the rural development department to complete the bridge several times in the past, but nothing has been done to resume its work.
Asked about its stalled work, executive engineer of the rural development division in Keonjhar, Benudhar Lenka, said the work was stalled over issues related to forest while the contractor has abandoned the work.
The contractor has been served a notice. Steps will be taken to resume its work, he added.
PNN
