--To demand completion of bridge work Muktikanta Biswal, a young philanthropist of steel city, is popular across the nation for his trekking from Rourkela to Delhi twice, to Bhubaneswar twice and to Amaravati via Bhubaneswar once for different pro-public issues. Now he has decided to launch a strike from Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) near the Deo river demanding early completion of bridge work over the river.
According to Biswal, the R&D Department of the Government of Odisha started the construction work of the bridge of 153.15 meter long and 7.5 meter wide on June 30, 2028. The target period of completion was June 29, 2020. About 20,000 inhabitants of Jhirpani, Mitukunduri, Karkata, Simarta, Kacharu, Reun, Pasara, Jharbeda, Karmabahal, Luchabahal, Sandalki, Bijubandh were happy as the bridge would facilitate communication in the area. However, the brouhaha was short-lived as the bridge work was stopped for a year.
The main reason behind the halting of the work is the problem of land acquisition and proper distribution of compensation to the land owners. The work was started in a hurry as the 2019 election was near. As the bridge is partly completed, the students, labourers, vegetable vendors and common people are crossing the river in a highly risky situation. After passing halfway, they are climbing to the bridge of 30 feet height with a temporary ladder putting their lives at risk.
So, Biswal has demanded the restarting of the construction work as early as possible by paying the appropriate compensation to the land owners.