Villagers protest, demand new boat
UP IN ARMS People from 16 villages stop a PWD team from grounding the bridge, refuse to utilise admn’s aluminium boat
Due to heavy rains and increase in Beasriver ’s water level, public works department (PWD) had decided to remove the pontoon bridge in Mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi on Tuesday.
A PWD team visited the area to dismantle the bridge in Baopur village. But the officials were stopped by people from over 16 villages. The villagers demanded a new boat.
Presently, a three-year old boat provides connectivity to nearly 5,000 people living in Mand area after removal of the pontoon bridge. Due to dismantling of the bridge, villages Baopur, Dhunna, Baopur Kadim, Baopur Zadid, Bheni Kadamwala, Sangran, Gaurewal, Kishangarh, Ramapur Gorey, Tangra and others will get affected.
Sources said “PWD officials also attempted to dismantle the bridge on Saturday but locals protested and Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema pacified the protestors, assuring them a new boat.”
The administration gave them aluminium boat on Monday but the locals refused to accept it demanding a good quality wooden boat.
“This boat is small as compared to the previous wooden boat, and on Tuesday, when we were travelling the boat almost sunk in the water. PWD officials enrolled in the work near bridge rescued us,” Paramjeet Singh, Kissan Sangarsh Committee, district president said.
One of the villagers said, “We will not allow the administration to remove the bridge until we get a better quality boat.” “It is difficult during the medical emergency as there are no hospitals or dispensaries nearby,” Singh claimed. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Charumita Shekhar said, “The bridge will be removed as per the state government’s directions.” Congress MLA Cheema said, “I have asked the Kapurthala deputy commissioner Mohammad Tayyab to replace the aluminium boat and provide a good quality wooden boat.” Cheema has proposed to construct a bridge within ₹10 crore budget .
This boat is small as compared to the previous wooden boat, and on Tuesday, when we were travelling the boat almost sunk in the water. PWD officials enrolled in the work near bridge rescued us. PARAMJEET SINGH, district president Kissan Sangarsh Committee