A bridge being built on the Kharakhari river has taken more than two decades for completion stoking discontentment in the area. Once completed, it would connect Barapali and Bhuan Bhuin villages under Poirasi GP and Khatia under UDS Pur GP under Ganjam Block.
For the flood-hit residents of these villages, the bridge is considered as an alternative connectivity to the Ganjam Block headquarters town. Notably, these villages remain marooned during high flood of Kharakhari and Rushikulya rivers which have their confluence at a distance of 1 km from these villages on the downstream causing huge water stagnation. It often needed boat service to reach out to the flood-hit for providing them relief materials.
According to sources, the foundation stone of the crucial bridge was laid in 2004 during the tenure of Deputy Speaker of OLA Rama Chandra Panda which was sanctioned by the Chief Minister to provide alternative connectivity to flood affected areas.
But the people of the area are put in utter inconveniences due to the prolonged period over which the bridge work has been continuing.Even after a direction of the CMO to the RD Department for completion of three slabs on the river, surprisingly it took nearly three years. Even after the slabs were completed, the approach road was yet to be completed. Meanwhile, the local people have requested the Government for an impartial and thorough probe into the callous attitude of the contractor for delaying the work that has suffered time and cost overruns. Besides, they have urged for fixing accountability on officials.