Tumudibandh: There was no end to woes of people in 21 villages in Mundigarh panchayat under Tumudibandh block in Kandhamal district. Many lives have been lost over last few years and adding to their miseries is rain bringing in flood in Raula river.
A trunk of a tree over the river serves as the only link for people in 21 villages for many years. Worse, wooden cots serve as both 108 and 102 ambulances. Locals risk lives and walk over the trunk to cross the river.
The river has come up as a big hurdle for locals that comes in the way of people commuting to and from the village. A bridge to be constructed over the river has been left incomplete for years now. Absence of a motorable road deprives people of availing 102 and 108 ambulance services.
Even though villagers have been pleading with the local administration to look into these issues, no steps have been taken in this regard.
According to sources, Mundigarh panchayat comprises 21 villages such as Kurtipada, Dagerigaon, Punipada, Kapibira, Bikapanga, Deopata, Buda Kundali, Kandam, Srigudi, Dhulimunda, Sandipankal, Pundedi, Sirkamaha, Sandebanda, Gududisuna, Ghutakapadar, Kendupada, Badabadi, Badakhalia, Sishubali and Madapankal. Over 4, 000 families reside in the panchayat.
They have to cross river Raula to reach to the panchayat for their work. Availing no options, they walk 5-10km over the river to reach the panchayat. Later, they carry goods and groceries on their shoulders and return back walking on a tree trunk placed over the river.
During rainy seasons, the trunk fully gets submerged with the increase in the water level in the river. Locals walk 15km all the way to the panchayat to avail the government supplied subsidies and groceries under ration card.
There is also no education facility in the village. College and school students risk their lives while crossing the river to reach their schools and colleges, said locals of the 21 villages.
Similarly, many locals die mid-way as they cannot be taken to a hospital in time. The villagers need to risk their lives walking through the wooden plank and cross the river for their daily needs.
A total of Rs 10, 000-12, 000 is spent to to put the trunk on the river. Locals raise money from voluntary donations to make the arrangment. Meanwhile, it needs to be changed every thrice in a year to ensure safety, locals said. It takes more than a week to construct the plank over the river. At first they construct a wall with stones and bamboos over the river.
Later, they put the wooden trunk over the bamboos so as to make a wooden bridge. Often, the ‘bridge’ is being washed away by the tides of the river, village leader Denga Majhi said. As the government cares little to their woes, they have to put the trunk by their own money, they added. Irate people have several times demanded immediate construction of a bridge and a proper road to the villages but to no avail.
Several officials have seen the plights and assured construction of a bridge but in vain, said Dasharath Majhi. PNN