Demand for permanent RCC bridge over River Charikotiya of Lakhimpur district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: A permanent RCC bridge connecting Na-Kapouhuwa and Goroimari over River Charikoriya is still a distant dream for almost 30,000 people living in larger Goroimari area under Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district.

Due to non-construction of the permanent bridge, River Charikoriya, which is fondly called as the lifeline of Dhakuakhana, has now turned to be the sorrow of the people of this area. During the long 75 years of post-independent India, the people of the area have to communicate with the external world by crossing deplorable bamboo bridges constructed across the river. Unfortunately, the bamboo bridges have to be constructed by the local people by investing public fund amounting to lakhs of rupees collected through donation every year. The bamboo bridge, once constructed in lean season, turns old within a short span of time and becomes critically with great risk

Notably, the bamboo bridge over the river in that place collapsed on the evening on May 19 due to massive force of the rapid current of overflowing water. During that time, several people, who went back home after enjoying the concluding day programmes of the Phat Bihu festival, were crossing the river through the bridge. As soon as the bridge broke, the people, including women, fell into the river and they were swept away along with the broken piece of the bridge. Some of them saved their lives by hanging onto bamboo bars that remained standing. However, on hearing the shouts for help, the inhabitants of the villages, located on the bank of the river, managed to save the lives of the people who were swept away. The next day, SDO (Civil) of Dhakuakhana, Arindam Baruah visited the spot and took stock of the situation. He also met the injured persons and said that a new bamboo bridge would be constructed in the spot at the earliest in order to mitigate the communication problem faced by the local public.

The people of the area have consecutively demanded the public representatives of Dhakuakhana, Lakhimpur district administration and the State Government to construct a permanent RCC bridge connecting Na-Kapouhuwa and Goroimari. But their demand has fallen into deaf ears so far. The local people alleged that former Cabinet Minister-cum-Congress leader Bharat Narah, who was the long term MLA of Dhakuakhana, had initiated no steps to construct the bridge in the place during his tenure.

"Similarly, former Panchayat and Rural Development Department Minister of BJP-led State Government, incumbent Dhakuakhana MLA Naba Kumar Doley has also paid no heed to mitigate the issue. It has exposed the real picture of the development in Dhakuakhana constituency," alleged the local people.

Under such circumstances, the people of the area have once again demanded the State Government to initiate steps to construct the bridge in that place at the earliest. In this connection, they have sought Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's intervention.

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