Absence of bridges posing threat to people’s lives

Rajamahendravaram: The delay in construction of bridges connecting riverislets with other parts in the district has been causing hardships to the people residing in the riverislets and it is regrettable that the elected representatives are not taking any initiative to complete them. Because of this, the people residing in the riverislets are forced to use country boats or motor boats or puttisfor their travel needs.

The recent boat capsize in river Godavari at Pasuvulanka village of I Polavaram mandal in East Godavari district in which six girl students and ahousewife lost their lives, is a glaring example for the negligent attitude of the government. The people residing in lanka areas always travel with some fear while crossing the river,as the boat operators overload the boat even in rough weather.

In East Godavari, there are as many as 155 river islets in 24 mandals, out of which there are no bridges to 73 islands and it is inevitable to the people of these villages to use country boats or puttisto cross the river even during floods. Meanwhile, as many as 130 riverislets will submerge in the floods everyyear and the government shift the people to safer places.

In the agency area also, the tribals of 15 to 20 villages have been using country boats to travel as there is no road facility for the past many years. In the absence of road facility, 19 tribals died in the boat capsize in river Godavari at Vadapalli village of West Godavari district recently.

Foundation stone was laid to some bridges relating to some riverislets and there is no progress of work for many years. The Pasuvulanka boat capsize may beaverted, if the government had completed the bridge construction. In the year 2002, with the initiative of former Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi, an amount of Rs 2.75 crore was sanctioned, but there was no progress.

Later in 2006, former chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy had allocated Rs 18 crore and laidfoundation stone to the bridge and construction works were not started. TDP government also laid foundation stone again to the bridge at Gunnepalli in Janmabhoomi programme, but the works areprogressing at snail’s pace.

Meanwhile, a proposal relating to a bridge to linkup river islands of GantiPedapudisivaru,Burugulanka, Pedapudilanka, Arigelavaripeta and Oodumudilankais still pending with the government. The riverislets are located in the mandals of Atreyapuram, Ravulapalem, Kothapeta, Aynavilli, Mummidivaram, Katrenikona,I Polavaram, P Gannavaram, Razole, Malikipuram, Sakhinetipalli, Mamidikuduru, Ambajipeta, Allavaram, Amalapuram, K Gangavaram, Kapileswarapuram, Sitanagaram, Devipatnam, Etapaka, Chintoor, VR Puram and Kunavaram.

A farmer M Appa Rao of Serilanka village said the construction of the bridge started 12 years ago, but not yet completed and the government is playing with thelives of the people in the river islands. Why the government is not spending small amounts for constructing the bridges across the river where thousands of people are residing, he questioned?

Speaking to The Hans India, Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa has said the construction of the bridge on river Godavari at Pasuvulankawill be completed as early as possible and other proposed bridges relating to lanka areas in the district will also be taken up.

The problem will be taken to the notice of ChiefMinister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for taking necessary action. Mummidivaram MLA DatlaSubba Raju said the bridge works were under progress and it will be completed as early as possible and the government sanctioned an amount of Rs 30 crore.