Temporary bridge built over Jamugand Nala… The only hope for the people of 15 remote villages is a temporary wooden bridge. BERHAMPUR – When the rainy season arrives, the life of fifteen tribal villages under Durgam Buratal Panchayat of Patrapur block of Ganjam district comes to a standstill. Due to the lack of a permanent bridge over the Mahendratanaya River (Jamugand Nala) connecting the villages, traffic is severely disrupted every year on rainy days. Despite the demand for the construction of a permanent bridge for years, no effective step has been taken by the administration. Finally, without waiting for government help, the tribals collected donations as per their capacity and built a temporary bridge over the Jamugand Nala by laying wood. While this initiative has been appreciated in the local area, it has also exposed the apathy of the administration.
Now this wooden bridge has become the only hope for the people of fifteen remote tribal villages including Kamalakhat, Nuasahi, Jenasahi, San Anchupa, Bada Anchupa, Mundaysingi, Kusumala, Mainsikhat, Bada Sacharu, San Sacharu, Kantigaon, Bada Anjaguli, San Anjaguli, Bilugaon and Sangaon. They have to depend on this wooden bridge for every need of their daily life.
This bridge is the only means of connectivity for taking patients to the hospital, bringing ration supplies, receiving allowance from the panchayat office, going to the market, doing bank work, students’ school transportation and all government services. According to locals, many accidents have occurred in the Jamugand Nala due to the strong current during rainy days. After the death of Somnath Bhuyan, the media has often reported scenes of school children risking their lives by crossing the canal holding onto ropes. Pregnant women, the elderly and seriously ill people face many problems even while being taken to the hospital. Although administrative officials visit the spot after each incident and return to inspect it, no concrete steps have been taken towards constructing a permanent bridge.
All the residents of these fifteen villages belong to the tribal community and they depend on daily wages, agriculture and collection of forest produce. Due to lack of transport facilities, they have been facing difficulties in accessing education, health, employment and government schemes for a long time.
Villagers demand that a permanent concrete bridge be constructed over the Jamugand Nala, not only will the traffic problems of the people of fifteen remote tribal villages be solved, but it will also open up new avenues for education, health, agriculture, business and overall development. The locals have strongly demanded that the district administration and the state government take immediate steps in this regard and construct a permanent bridge.
