Survey for a new bridge across the Manimala river at Chirakkapparakadavu was conducted on February 24, 2018.Pathanamthitta: Tragedies take place at river crossings during all seasons. The latest incident in the district claimed the life of Rahul, a nine-year-old boy, at Bhagavathykadavu in Kuriyannur. With another academic year set to begin, concerns have been raised over the safety of children who have to depend on canoes to cross the river on way to school. Travel to school is a nightmare for students as well as parents living near the river banks.
There are numerous children in Pathanamthitta district who have to cross the river every day to reach school. Onmanorama investigates whether the authorities have arranged a safe trip for them to school. The status of projects which seek to build bridges to replace risky canoe trips is also examined.
A bridge across the Pamba
Aranmula: Rivers hold hidden dangers which are not evident from the surface. Any lack of attention could lead to loss of life. At least a hundred people have met with accidents in the Pamba river over the last three years. Of them, at least half were students.
There are four river crossings in Aranmula - Parapuzhakadavu, Sathrakadavu, Anjilimoottilkadavu and Parakadavu. There are canoes at all these places. But when the water level in the river rises, the canoe service is suspended. Several students depend on the canoe to go to school. Good news is that a bridge will be opened at Anjilimoottilkadavu after two months. All the four river crossings are likely to be history when the bridge is inaugurated. Staff in the post of ferryman who operated the canoes will be deployed in other departments.
During every monsoon, the water level rises in the river and fear grips the residents living on the northern bank of Madamon.River crossings also exist at Thundiyilkadavu and Pullelikadavu in Thottapuzhassery panchayat. It is alleged that the real staff have vanished at several river crossings and others are carrying out the task. Local people said that the authorities should act on the matter.
Madamon in the grip of fear
Ranni: During every monsoon, the water level rises in the river and fear grips the residents living on the northern bank of Madamon. They have to send children to school on canoes across the river. Madamon is part of Perunad panchayat and is located on the north as well as south side of the river. Residents of Alimukku, Adichipuzha, Choorakkuzhi and Mukkom on the northern side have to reach the river bank to travel to other places. For this, they have to cross the river.
Though a canoe is available around the year, crossing is dangerous when the water level rises in monsoon. The worst hit are students. Often, parents accompany children during the crossing on way to school. The students are again taken home by their guardians after school. When the water level rises to dangerous levels, the trip to school is via road, which is a long detour. The travel via Banglamkadavu bridge involves an extra journey of several kilometres.
The dream of the local people for a bridge connecting Kulanada and Pandalam at Vayarapuzhakadavu across the Achenkovil river is yet to turn into a reality.A proposal to build a bridge at the river crossing has already been submitted to the government. Work on boring, which involves checking the stability of the soil, was carried out recently. However, there has been no follow-up.
Another danger spot in the area was the river crossing at Peroorchal. However, with a bridge coming up there, a major fear haunting the children has passed.
Suspense continues over bridge
Kottangal: Survey for a new bridge across the Manimala river at Chirakkapparakadavu was conducted on February 24, 2018. The new bridge will connect Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. The survey was carried out by Kerala electrical and allied engineering company (KEL) and a team led by senior manager Venugopal was involved in the task.
At present, there are two hanging bridges in the area – at Nooluvelikadavu in Kottangal and Thelapuzhakadavu in Sasthamkoikal. A bridge that can carry small vehicles is likely to come up at Chirakkappara. Students of Thazhathuvadakara higher secondary school stand to benefit the most by the bridge. They can save three kilometres between Thazhathuvadakara and Kottangal, Chungappara. Moreover, access to Pathanad, Kangazha and Kodungoor would be easier. In this area, canoes for river crossing operate only during eight months a year.
Hanging bridge closed
The hanging bridge was built by KEL five years ago.Enathu: Several students travelling to Kulakkada government higher secondary school will have no option but to take a long route with the closure of the hanging bridge, which has become weak and unsafe. The bridge was closed last month. It was a connection between Elamgamangalam in Pathanamthitta district and Kulakada in Kollam district across the Kallada river. Now the residents of Elamgamangalam have to travel around four kilometres more to reach Enathu and Kulakada. The worst affected are again the students of Kulakada school. The hanging bridge was built by KEL five years ago. Authorities are taking no action to repair the bridge.
Neither bridge nor canoe
Mannady: The river crossings at Thengampuzha at Mannady and Chettiyarethukadavu across the Kallada river are no longer operational. Funds were allocated in the last budget to build a bridge at Chettiyarethukadavu connecting Mannady and Lower Kulakkada in Kollam district.
Local people complain that the canoe deployed by the public works department is not available all the time. Moreover, when the water level in the river rises, the canoe cannot be used as it is too dangerous. The banks of the river on both sides are not suitable for landing. The boatman now anchors the canoe with his oar to enable the travellers to enter and leave it. This poses grave danger. Residents on both sides of the river are now depending on bus for travelling.
Desperate plea for river
Mallappally: Canoe service to cross the Manimala river is available at Parakkadavu. It connects Keezhvaypur and Pariyaram. Students of Keezhvaypur government vocational higher secondary school staying at Pariyaram and nearby places in Mallappally panchayat depend on the canoe to cross the river. However, they complain that the boatman does not turn up for work on many days.
Bhagavathykadavu in Kuriyannur which claimed the life of Rahul.A bridge which can carry small vehicles will hopefully come up here. Works for which have already started.
Earlier, canoe service was available at Chengazhasserikadavu at Ollurpady in Anikkadu panchayat. During the grama sabha meeting held last March, there was a demand that the service should be stopped as few people were using it. But the canoe was already in disuse for a long period.
Still depending on canoes
Pandalam: The dream of the local people for a bridge connecting Kulanada and Pandalam at Vayarapuzhakadavu across the Achenkovil river is yet to turn into a reality. Commuters, including school children, are still depending on canoe to cross the river. When the water level in the river rises, the worries of parents who send their children to school aggravate. A temporary bridge is often built here, but that is during the Pandalam Mahadevar temple festival and other functions. Rest of the time, the local people have to depend on the canoe. A bridge would help people to reach Pandalam without taking the roundabout route via Kulanada. Canoe crossings are also available at Mannakadavu and Airanikudi.
The only relief for the local people is that strong and safe canoes as well as experienced boatmen are available at all the crossings. However, the services are not available now, but will start by June 1, when the schools reopen and will be operational from 7 am to 7 pm. According to the rules, the contractor should bring the canoe. The public works department has set the monthly rent at Rs 750 and wages as Rs 600. The period of the contract is from June 1 to December 31. Public works department officials said that a proposal to offer the service throughout the year has been forwarded based on a demand of the local people.
Works to build a bridge at Vayarapuzha were launched several years ago. Even land was acquired for laying an approach road from Vayarapuzha to Alunilkummannu at a width of 8 meters. Last year, a team led by Veena George MLA had visited Vayarapuzha to elicit the views of the local people regarding the bridge. A meeting held in this regard was attended by public works department engineer and local body representatives, among others. The meeting had announced that the bridge would be ready by 2019.
Nothing has moved since then, but according to ward member P R Mohandas, the MLA had assured him that the necessary amount for the bridge would be set apart in the budget. If the bridge becomes a reality, it would prove to be a solution for the heavy traffic along the MC Road. It is also pointed out that the accident rate along the MC Road stretch would also come down.
A struggle for survival without a bridge
Konni: Children of around ten families living in the forest village of Kokkathodu are leading a perilous life in absence of a bridge across the Kudapara stream in Akkoottumoozhy. This area falls under ward three of Aruvappulam panchayat. From the time the Kokkathodu village came into being, the residents have been travelling across the stream on a narrow single log bridge.
When the water level rises dangerously during the monsoon, children cannot be sent to school along this route. They have to walk several kilometres through the forest to reach Allungal from where they can proceed to their school. Regularly, petitions are submitted to MP, MLA and panchayat members seeking a solution to their woes, but the local people are yet to see any favourable action.
Meanwhile, the hanging bridge across the Achenkovil river connecting Mangaramkara and Airavankara at Konni is in a perilous state. No maintenance work has been carried out for years. The bridge is mainly used by students of schools in Airavankara and Konni. Earlier, the children depended on the canoe to cross the river.
Bridge still a dream
Thiruvalla: Students belonging to Kadapra, Niranam, Nedumbram and Peringara panchayats which share the border with Alappuzha district depend on canoes to cross the river on their way to school. The demand for a bridge at Upadesikadavu in Kadapra has been raised regularly over the past 15 years. The Pamba river is around 10 meters deep at the river crossing here.
A canoe was available at Vattadikadavu in Areethodu in Niranam for years. Students of two LP schools and two Anganwadis have to cross the river to reach their schools. The boatman who was in charge retired from service last month, following which the canoe is now in disuse. Now with the next school year looming, the students are waiting for a new man to take charge of the canoe. Till then, uncertainty would prevail over their trips to school.
Students of Chathankari and Amichakari go to the school located in Muttar panchayat by crossing the river in a canoe at Concordkadavu in Peringara panchayat. They have been demanding a bridge for years. The previous state government had allocated money in the budget for the purpose, but nothing happened. In Nedumbram panchayat, river crossing is available at wards 8, 10 and 13. Among these, the crossing at ward 13 witnesses a large number of school students. They use the canoe as a short cut to school.
