Daijiworld Media Network–Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Nov 8: After a futile wait for the government to build a bridge, villagers of Ulyakudru near Kemral came together to construct a bridge.

The bridge, completed by them on Sunday November 6, is suitable even for vehicular traffic.

The demand for the bridge here is not new. Human life used to go haywire due to floods every year during monsoons in more than 50 acre-wide Ulyakudru disconnecting the island from outside world. People had to depend on boats for agricultural activities and to transport the sick people.

Kindi dam, which was constructed near here about 65 years ago, is also about to collapse. The foot bridge constructed about 20 years ago is also about to fall. As 30 years demand for a bridge never materialised, twelve families joined hands together for constructing the concrete bridge spending Rs 10 lacs from their own funds.

The work was led by Pascal Miranda and Tejas B Ameen. Pascal Miranda donated his fields for the bridge road. Other villagers also let their land to be used for the purpose.

The bridge is 12 feet wide and 30 feet long. 50 Youngsters continuously worked for a month for its construction. The bridge has been built at a high place. Local people hope the problems in the monsoons will be reduced if local government administration constructs a road and a retaining wall.

The only development the government took in the area was the mud road work construction of two and half kilometres taken up by MLC Monappa Bhandary some time back with a cost of Rs 3 lac. The mud road ends near the foot bridge.