TV
In Odisha’s Kandhamal district, residents of at least six villages find themselves precariously relying on makeshift wooden bridges to navigate their daily lives. This situation has been ongoing, exacerbated by what villagers describe as administrative indifference. Often, promises made by local leaders and ministers during elections remain unfulfilled, leaving residents disillusioned.
Without proper roads or sturdy bridges, villagers must cross a shaky wooden bridge, composed of planks, spanning the Madiapa River. The bridge's instability is a significant concern for both pedestrians and vehicles. During the monsoon rains, the river swells, isolating the villages and cutting off essential access to the outside world.
Despite repeated requests for a permanent bridge, over 600 villagers from communities including Markali, Sikiri, Dedisar, Madiapanga, Bhutulipada, and Panga continue to depend on this unreliable crossing.
Locals have continuously urged for basic infrastructure improvements, highlighting how the current conditions inhibit access to essential services and schools. Their appeals, however, seem to fall on deaf ears. The Chief Development Officer of the district has acknowledged the issue, confirming that approval has been granted under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for road construction.
Nevertheless, villagers insist on immediate action to prevent accidents, as they navigate life amidst these challenging conditions.
“Over 600 families reside in our village. We face unwanted problems due to a lack of proper bridge and road connectivity in our village. Even an ambulance cannot come to the village during emergency cases. Patients have to be carried on the shoulders. Politicians and leaders visit our village only during elections, but forget their promises later,” a local, Manoranjan Nayak, stated.
“Our children use this bridge to go to school and college. Who will be responsible if the wooden bridge collapses and something happens to our kids?” questioned another local, Susant Kanhar.
