Kundapur: Mainland inaccessible - Sarkal isle residents dread flood

Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 11: The people of Sarkal isle located within the limits of Kavrady gram panchayat in the taluk remain cut off from the mainland during the monsoon season. The fact that the isle is devoid of several basic necessities, and people there have no respite from repeated floods during the rainy season, speak volumes about the functioning style of successive governments during the last about 66 years since independence.

Sarkal is located about eight km away from the taluk headquarters. The villagers are now forced to take a detour and cover 30 km to reach Kundapur. Apathy shown by the people’s representatives towards their plight has further angered the Sarkal people.

A person who wants to visit Sarkal has to walk about ten minutes on the road opposite Saukoor Temple to reach a dangerous makeshift bridge made by laying a wooden log across the rivulet, which is an arrangement made by the villagers. The people of Sarkal say that during floods, this bridge gets washed away as wooden logs float on the gushing water at great speed during floods, and destroy this bridge. As they have no other alternative, the people have cultivated the practice of building this bridge again whenever this happens.

The isle has about 30 houses with 200 residents. Around 50 children attend various schools. During monsoon months, they have to walk to Kandlur about 15 km away, before taking a bus or other form of transport to their schools. If the people need any heavy items, or have to provide healthcare to the ill, they need to hire an auto rickshaw by paying not less than Rs 200 to visit the nearest town. This plight repeats each time they have to visit government offices, banks, ration shops, etc.

After MLA, Haladi Srinivas Shetty, took personal interest, a regular bridge in place of makeshift wooden footbridge had been sanctioned six years back. But the proposal had to be dropped as some land owners were not agreeable to spare their land for the purpose. But these land owners later were convinced to sacrifice the land for the construction of the bridge, the locals say. But, the leaders have now not been taking any interest, they allege. Several representations made in the past in this connection have fallen on deaf years.

During every rainy season, the isle gets flooded, and water enters their homes. If the situation turns grave, the villagers have no way of escaping to safety. They have hence been hoping that they will get the bridge they badly need, at least during the current year.