For want of a bridge over Shewli

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 30: The residents of Pakhihaga village under Jamaldaha Gram Panchayat in Mekhliganj sub-division are considering a movement plan demanding a new road-bridge replacing the old one over Shewli river. Presently the old bridge made with wooden and iron parts is lying in a deplorable condition. Locals alleged that the road-bridge was lying in bad shape for a long but the authorities concerned took no initiative to renovate it. To straight out the situation they are demanding construction of a new concrete bridge over the river.

 

Vice-president of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress Mr Niranjan Dutta said they are planning a movement for a new bridge for the interest of the suffering villagers. The proposed movement may be organised prior to the next three-tier Panchayat elections, Mr Dutta said.

 

An aged resident of the village pointed out that more than four thousand people live on both sides of Shewli river. They have to use the existing damaged bridge daily. The villagers pass through this bridge for going to health centres, markets and schools. A number of planks of the platform of this bridge were damaged or destroyed and for that it is hard to cross the bridge safely. Richshaw-van pullers pass through this narrow bridge cautiously with their vans loaded with goods because at any moment they may fall down from the bridge. Another villager alleged that the bridge turned into an accident prone one. Several incidents occurred over this bridge during crossing over it, allege others. Bicycle riders have had to face such incidents regularly, they said.

 

To many, the existing Shewli bridge is nothing but a sort of death trap these days. Almost all wooden and iron parts of this bridge have rotten. It will be better to construct a new concrete bridge than to repair the old one, residents opined. The pradhan of the Gram Panchayat and others concerned were informed of the pathetic condition several times but nothing happened till now, they alleged. "Now we have left with no alternative but organising a movement to get a workable bridge over Shewli river", an aggrieved villager said.

 

Jamaldaha Gram Panchayat sources said they have no ability to construct a new bridge or renovate it thoroughly because of lack of adequate fund. They made the bridge usable temporarily for the locals by fixing a few bamboo poles on the bridge. The situation was conveyed to the Mekhliganj Panchayat Samiti, the sources claimed. On the otherhand, sources in Mekhliganj Panchayat Samiti said they are considering a plan to construct a new bridge over Shewli river to improve the situation. []