These students have no options but to fall back on these bamboo bars to reach school. A slight mistake could be highly risky. A slip could be fatal for if one falls in the water beneath, there are ferocious crocodiles waiting to feast on the body.
Though more than two and a half years have passed to the laying of foundation stone of a Biju Setu at Palanda on the crocodile- infested Dantuani river, a branch of Brahamani, but it remains a non starter as yet.
As a result, the students and the general public have to depend on the bamboos to cross the river for completing their daily works at Chandibausamula, the other side of the river, what they do by putting their lives at high risk.
At least 3,000 people of Palanda, Dholamara, Gadapari, Kusunpur and lokanathprasad villages generally depend to cross the river on these bamboos to complete their routine works on a daily basis. Every day, hundreds of school and college students of these five villages depend on the rickety bamboo bridge to reach Chandibaunsamula-based Sri Jagannath High Schoiol, Sabitridebi Girl’s High School, laxminarayan Sanskrit School, Gopabandhu Sisu Mandir and Nalinikanta Mohanty Mahavidyala for attending classes. Even, the college students cross the river through the bamboos over the river by keeping the cycle on their shoulders. During the examination time, the students generally fail to reach on time and face lots of difficulties. Apart from this, the locals generally depend on the bamboos on the river to reach Jarimula and Chandibaunsamula market to collect the household items and grocery, besides over works at Chandibaunsamula panchayat office, local co-operative society office, veterinary office, Ayurvedic health centre and Bank of Baroda branch, informed Nohan Kumar Das, a local.
Even, there were instances of couple of children falling on the river water after their feet slipped in the bamboo, but they were fortunate enough to have narrow escape from crocodiles.
By understanding the problems of the locals, former MlA of Rajnagar Alekha Jena on March 3, 2014 had laid foundation stone on the Dantuani river near Palanda to construct Biju Setu. But more than two and a half years have passed, but the construction work has not been started, alleged locals.
When contacted Assistant Executive Engineer of Rural Development Gunadhar Samal informed that earlier tender was invited and contract works had also been provided to a contract agency. But, later soil test was organised for the construction work of the Biju Setu .But unfortunately, it was found from the soil test report that the design made for construction of the bridge was not fit. As a result, the contract agency skipped the work.
Meanwhile, the bridge construction work would be started after the approval of new design, he said.