A dodging bridge that isolates a village

Mahbubnagar: While the authorities are making tall claims that Telangana is a model State for others in the country for its tremendous development and myriad welfare schemes, the residents of Seripalli village in Srirangapur mandal in Wanaparthy district beg to differ.

To go out of the village for any activity, they have to cross a small rivulet with waist-deep water. The 3,000-odd population of the village cannot even sell their agriculture produce without crossing the rivulet.

Umpteen promises from various quarters to build a bridge connecting the village to the nearby Srirangapur have never been fulfilled. Though the government had called for tenders in 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.98 crore for building a bridge across the rivulet and awarded it to a contractor, the contractor is yet to complete the bridge which was supposed to be constructed in 12 months. He just left the work halfway.

The plight of students of the village is horrible. They have to cross the waist-deep rivulet to reach their school. There is only a primary school in the village and for higher education they need to go to Srirangapur. There is Jurala canal and Jinkaloni Bavi rivulet between the two villages.

The boys undress themselves for crossing the rivulet and dress after crossing it to go to the high school. The girls, who cannot do such feat, are compelled to stay back home. The parents are forcing the girls to marry at a very young age since they have no schooling.

Earlier, the rivulet was full only during monsoon. Now, after the construction of Rangasamudram reservoir as part of Bhima Project Phase-2, there is water in the rivulet throughout the year making it impossible for the people to reach Srirangapur.

There used to be twelve girl students studying in higher classes in the village. Now there are only two girls as most of them discontinued the studies due to the problem. The affluent, who can afford, are staying at Srirangapur for studies of their children.

The students, who regularly cross the rivulet, narrated their woes of facing snakes, scorpions and some other poisonous insects while crossing it. The high school teacher said more than 150 students used to attend the school from Seripalli three years ago. Now there are hardly 20 students including a girl, he added.

The villagers said it was a herculean task to cross the rivulet with bullock carts and tractors carrying paddy to sell in the market. They appealed to the government to expedite the construction of the bridge in the larger interest of the villagers, to promote education and to prevent child marriages.

By Narender Chary