Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia

Sullia, Jul 2: The Kindi Anekattu (dam), located between Peruvaje and Kodiala villages in the Sullia constituency, connects to over 60 residences but is currently in a dilapidated state, posing a safety concern for locals.

The deteriorating dam is situated over an overflowing river, and this monsoon, the river is posing a danger to the dam, which is on the verge of collapsing at any time. The concrete slab has broken, and villagers are using an arecanut tree as a temporary bridge to cross the river over the dam.

The small dam, over 45 years old, has been in a dilapidated state for the past three years. Despite demands, the local representatives have failed to respond to the people.

More than 60 houses depend on this dam route to reach their residences, and children and the elderly have to cross the dam and walk over the arecanut tree to cross the river. There is also a lack of a protection wall on the dam on both sides.

A local resident, Vanitha, said that repairing the bridge has been a long-standing demand for the locals over the past three years. On July 1, the MLA visited and assured the construction of a new connecting bridge. For now, they have laid concrete for a temporary solution, but it is uncertain how long it will last this monsoon.

Hanging bridge using arecanut tree trunks

A similar situation exists where there is no connecting bridge for the Balnad river, located near the Aranthodu–Pindimane Mitthadka road.

More than 100 male Kudiyas families are in dire straits, trying to reach their houses without a proper road or connecting bridge. They have constructed a hanging bridge using arecanut tree trunks, which also seems unsafe. If they avoid using this hanging bridge, the locals have to travel an additional 15 kilometres.