Villagers build timber bridge over river
Bridge built to ease transportation to local markets, hospitals
Residents of Birindipada, a remote forest village under the K. Nuagaon block in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, have built a timber bridge over the local Kalipan river to establish physical links with the local markets, hospitals, schools and colleges.
The locals on Sunday said they have been deprived of basic transport and communication facilities for decades and all their appeals to build a concrete bridge over the river always fell on “deaf ears” of the administration.
Despite repeated appeals and petitions to the local representatives of the state administration, no step was taken to construct a bridge.
As a result, they always crossed the dangerous Kalipan river with the help of cables tied to the trees on both sides of the river.
“We have appealed to the local MLA and MP umpteen times. They have always assured us that they will look into our request. Unfortunately, they never made any move to build a bridge here. Pregnant women and ailing people were left to their fate as we could not carry them to the nearby hospitals,” said the villagers.
They added that the gov
ernment-supplied ration often did not reach them as the river served as a barrier.
“Earlier we used to cross the river with the help of metal cables tied to big trees on both the sides of the river. When our plight
was highlighted by the media, the administration removed the cables, pushing us to utter confinement. Our brothers and fathers collected logs from the forest and made this timber bridge. If the government removes it, we will once again be stranded and will be paddling through water risking our lives,” said a pregnant woman.
Though no government official was forthcoming on the allegation of apathy made by the villagers, sources said the government has constructed a bridge over the river six km upstream from the village. However, the villagers are not using that bridge as they have to travel that extra distance.
“The government is still considering building a bridge at Birindapada. We have drawn the attention of the higher authorities and a decision will be taken soon” a senior government official who did not want to be quoted said.