Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Jun 22: The long-pending demand for a foot over bridge in the rural area of Mavinaguli under Gulvadi village of the taluk remains unfulfilled. Consecutive governments have been interested only in developing the city and urban areas but remain unconcerned about rural areas like Mavinaguli.

When Karkunje grama panchayat got divided, Mavinaguli area got amalgamated with Gulvadi grama panchayat. There was a voice of unscientific division of the village at that time. However, it was silenced in due course.

Mavinaguli Jaddu is on the banks of Kubja river. Kubja river flows into Amparu on the other end. Amparu is quite close to this village and is at a eight km distance to Neralakatte. So the villagers of Mavinaguli built a foot over bridge across Kubja river during rainy season. This story dates back to centuries. This has resulted in the non-progress of the villagers in the education sector. However, the administration is not bothered about this issue.

The Kubja river which flows from top at Mavinaguli Jaddu has created a vast river basin. So the people have to build a foot over bridge that is at least 100 meters long. The pillars of the foot over bridge should also be strong as the force of water is quite high. So the type of wood that can withstand such force should be used. Spans of 20 meters should be installed. It is not easy to build such a wooden foot over bridge.

Every year the villagers spend nearly Rs 20,000 for the purpose. The foot over  bridge, which takes a week to build is limited to only one monsoon. Sometimes, when the water current is high, the foot over bridge gets washed away. Then there is no alternative route for the residents of Mavinaguli. They have to go to Neralakatte.

The foot over bridge, which looks like a railway track creates fear in the minds of onlookers and it is not safe also. Some even think whether it is indeed possible to walk on the bridge. The rumbling sound of the water flowing beneath also makes the heart beat faster. Even the hands start shaking.

Sometimes the wooden planks start rattling as the water hits them. Moreover, the foot over bridge becomes slippery due to the continuous rainfall. A slight slip of the leg may prove to be fatal. An elderly person of the village once fell into the river and got washed away to a great distance. But he survived as he knew swimming.

Villagers of Mavinaguli have appealed to the local grama panchayat, MLA, district administration and government to build a permanent bridge across the Kubja river. However, till date their appeal has fallen on deaf ears. The officials in their report say that there is no dangerous foot over bridge in their area.

The irony is that there is a vented dam near the Kubja rivulet. A retainer wall is built above it. However, very little water gets stored there. But the demand for a foot over bridge of the Mavinaguli villagers is ignored by all the officials of the government.

Local residents say that wooden foot over bridge is a must for them during the monsoon season to cross the river as it is the shortest way for children to go to school, labourers to go to factories of cashewnut at Amparu etc.

The challenge lies in reaching Neralakatte from Mavinaguli Jaddu. From Mavinaguli school one has to tread very steep and deep road. Now the road has been dug up for JMJ pipeline and the whole road has become slimy. Though there is a demand to make concrete road till Mavinaguli Jaddu it is also not done.

Deepa, a local resident says, “We are appealing since decades to build at least a minor bridge for the residents of Mavinaguli. But no one is hearing our woes. From here to Neralakatte it is eight km. As the road is not proper, rented vehicles do not come to our village. If pregnant women face any issues, it is very difficult to take them to the hospital. A wooden foot over bridge is the only way. Administration should consider the woes of the villagers of this area.”

Mahabala, local resident says, “We have been appealing to build a minor bridge for Mavinaguli Jaddu that falls under Gulvadi grama panchayat. No one is responding to our appeal. No one understands the difficulties and dangers faced by the residents of Mavinaguli while crossing the Kubja river during monsoon. It is easier for us to go to Amparu through this foot over bridge. We need Rs 20,000 every year to build this foot over bridge. Even after building the wooden bridge some times it gets washed away.”