Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor (MS)

Byndoor, Jun 2: As the monsoon is round the corner, people who use foot bridges are scared. Every year in the district of Udupi accidents occur due to the dilapidated foot bridges. The system does not wake up till some tragedy occurs. After a tragedy for some days the administration runs around. Later, the situation is back to the same state. A perfect example for this kind of administration apathy is the Rampaiah Jaddu foot bridge at Yedamoge, which is inviting danger.

There is a village called Rampaiah Jaddu at a stone’s throw from the main road of Yedamoge, which falls under the legislative constituency of Byndoor. There are 20 to 25 houses in the village. The villagers have to cross the Kubja river, which flows towards Kamalashile. Minor bridge is still not built for the residents of Rampaiah Jaddu that lies on the right bank of the river. From nearly 100 years, the residents of this village cross the river through the temporary wooden foot bridge that they have built across the river. The Kubja river which begins its flow from Western Ghats turns violent with water gushing at high speed during monsoon. The river is around 50 feet wide. Planks of arecanut tree are put in three parts lengthwise and wooden logs are kept over it and tied with ropes. Both ends they tie the foot bridge from arecanut trunks. The river is 30 feet deep and 50 feet wide.

School going children of Rampaiah Jaddu have to cross this foot bridge in order to go to schools at Yedamoge. Even if the villagers are unwell, they have to cross through this footbridge. Daily groceries and equipment need to be brought through the same footbridge. For over a century, the villagers of Rampiah Jaddu live in fear during the four months of monsoon.

The villagers have appealed since several decades to the administration to build a minor bridge across the river. However, so far their plea is fell on deaf ears. Last year, a girl died while crossing the river and all foot bridges were identified but no further progress was made. Now the administration is saying that the tender process is underway.

If a minor bridge or dam cum bridge is built at Rampaiah Jaddu, it will be very convenient to the people of the village. Elected representatives should do an honest attempt to realize the dream of villagers of Rampaiah Jaddu.

Manjunatha Naika, a local says, “I am 50 years old now. I have appealed to concerned government officials to build a concrete footbridge from my school going time. But so far, a permanent foot bridge is not built. For so many years, we used to build foot-bridge every year before monsoon. Now people do not come for that job also. The elected representatives think of us only during election time.”

Amritha, a local woman says, “Every day, seven to eight children of our village cross the footbridge and go to school. During rainy season we are scared. If we do not use this bridge, then we have to go through Kaaroor. That is very far. This issue is persisting since many years. We have been appealing for solution since many decades. No one listens to the woes of the villagers.”

Nanu Naika, a local centenarian says, “I am 100 years old now. From my childhood the situation is the same. Wooden foot-bridge. I have been climbing and alighting the same since my childhood. Even now the situation is the same. Do not know when a permanent foot bridge will be built.”