Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (RJP)
Kundapur, Jul 10: It is exactly a year since 7-year-old Vismaya Devadiga died in a tragic incident here. She had lost her life after she fell into the water while crossing a wooden footbridge over Chakra River at Maranakatte near here.
On July 10 last year, Vismaya, her mother and another child were crossing the rickety footbridge and Vismaya had slipped and fallen into the water. Due to heavy rains, her body could only be retrieved near Chiththur Nyaganamale after two days.
Vismaya was the daughter of Shekar and Jalaja Devadiga from Sanyasibettu.
However, even a year after the incident, the bridge that had been promised back then has not been built. Until recently, people had to balance their way over two wooden logs to cross the river. The footbridge was dismantled only a month back before the onset of monsoon, fearing danger. Now the people from this part have to take a longer route of many kilometres to reach the other side. For school going children, it is a cumbersome journey.
'Provide education without impediments'
Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary who had promised the bridge has failed to fulfill it, the locals have complained. The bridge was one of his many promises after the death of Vismaya, they said.
"It is sad to note that the bridge has not been constructed as promised even after a year of the tragedy. They talk about the safety of school going children but do not do anything about it. While they brief the media on the awareness of safety, they should try to understand the problems faced by the school going children in rural areas. There is no opportunity for children here to get education without impediments. The government should act immediately to sort out these problems," said B M Sukumar Shetty, president of Kundapur Education Society.
Bridge will be built soon: MLA
Responding to the issue, MLA Gopal Poojary said, "We have already approached NABARD and the Coastal Development Authority with the request for funds to construct the bridge. Rs 10 lac has been promised already. The Coastal Development Authority has come here and inspected the land for the proposed bridge. We will act as soon as we get money from one of these two agencies and construct the bridge. Within a short period, the bridge is going to be a reality."