Bridge construction proposal gathering bureaucratic dust
Saturday, 20 JULY 2024 | PNS | PITHORAGARH
In latest news from Uttarakhand, with monsoon rain having started to show red eyes in Uttarakhand, particularly in the mountainous districts, the school children are at the receiving end of things. Those from Gharuri area of Mawani-Dawani gram panchayat of Bangapani Pani Tehsil under Pithoragarh district are risking their lives while navigating the swollen Gori river with the help of a rope trolley to reach their schools.
The locals said that the hazardous journey of the children to their schools across Gori which is now in spate is a frightening sight for all. The parents said that this worries them no end. “But we have to allow our children to take the grim risk as we are left with no other option. They must study and build their future,” said a parent, adding that this has been going on for a decade with the authorities ignoring the children’s plight. Mention worthy, two people have died while crossing the swollen Gori river with rope trolley during monsoon in the past.
About two dozen children go to the government higher secondary school at Lumti and the government inter-college at Mawani and Baram every day.
The villager sarpanch Gambhir Singh demanded immediate construction of a concrete bridge and deployment of home guard or PRD personnel for the safety of children until the bridge is constructed. “This is the only way to end the children’s monsoon ordeal,” he added.
Queried over the matter, the junior engineer Askot, Neeraj Kumar said that despite the proposal for the construction of a concrete bridge in Gori river the Lumti-Ghurudi being sent to the State government, it is yet to be approved. “Once the approval comes we will start work,” he added. .
