-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM, JULY 13: People from Morlem and Pelaodo in Keri Sattari, including 20 primary students, have been facing a lot of hardship, as they have to risk their lives while crossing a man-made wooden bridge. The bridge, which is a link between Pelaodo Keri and Morlem, is being used by about 20 primary students from Morlem everyday while proceeding to the primary school located at Dhangarwada-Keri. The bridge is dangerous for the children because it is made up of small bamboos and there is no support to hold by the side. All the children always risk their life while crossing the bridge under which the current of the river is very fast. “This is a usual affair during rainy season. Every year, the river gets flooded and we have to build such temporary bridge for our convenience,” Atmaram Morajkar from Pelaodo Keri told Herald. “The locals collect the required material, including wood and coconut trees, and make this bridge,” informed Morajkar. In the absence of this bridge, people have to travel for about 5 kms distance to go to the other village. This year, the locals have constructed the bridge, but are still unsure till when it would last. “The bridge is only temporary and is washed away during heavy rains, even when the gates of the Keri dam are opened, the water rises and our efforts are washed away,” said Morajkar. “At times, the students have to miss the classes and the link between the two villages is almost broken as the next link is another bridge, which is about 5 kms away from the village,” he added. The villagers have made several applications to the local panchayat and also asked local MLA Pratapsingh Rane to solve the problem, but all their pleas fell on deaf ears. “We had given memorandum to the panchayat, but they are not interested in the project and only provides Rs 1,000 for the construction of this temporary bridge,” said Morajkar. “If we ask the MLA, he refers us back to the panch members and tells that it is their responsibility. They all are seen here only during elections,” added Morajkar. The demand of the villagers is construction of a small permanent bridge. “We only demand for the construction of an iron bridge so that the problem is solved permanently” stated Dasharath Morajkar. “Now it is difficult for us to find the required material for the construction of the bridge and the representatives including the panch and MLA should act upon and stop giving assurances,” added Morajkar.
