Post News Network
Daringbadi, Oct 3: The district administration Saturday failed to snap the wire tied between two trees over river Tikapati which is used as a bridge between Simanbadi and Gabatabadi under this block in Kandhamal district after fierce opposition from locals.
Tehsildar Nimain Charan Sutar, block development officer Sunakar Sharma and the local police had to return without success after villagers strongly opposed them.
It may be noted that a 15-year-old bridge project was yet to see the light of the day. Students of Gabatabadi were finding it difficult to attend classes when the river swelled a fortnight back. Following this, villagers fixed a rope over the river to two trees to connect the two villages and started crossing the river.
The government ordered a probe into the matter after this newspaper carried a report with picture of students crossing the river on tightrope September 25. Two days back, officials visited the site and assured locals of an alternative arrangement.
Even as officials tried to convince villagers of the threat involved in crossing the river like that, it yielded no results. The wire should be removed only after an alternative arrangement is put in place, the villagers argued.
It was learnt that officials Saturday snapped one of the two ropes. Getting information, villagers rushed to the site and opposed the administration’s action. They again tied the rope after officials turned their back on them without any success in removing the ropes.
“The way children were walking on the rope is dangerous but it is becoming difficult to convince locals. We are trying to set up a proper bridge,” BDO Sharma said.
