More than 3,000 people are virtually trapped on an “Island” falling along the Indo-Pak border in Gurdaspur.
The temporary pontoon bridge which connects the villagers with the outside world, was dismantled on Sunday and the people are now dependent on a single boat provided by the Punjab Government for transportation to the “mainland”.
In the monsoons, people living in these villages are cut off with the rest of the nation. In this season, they do not have communication facility because the international border is next to their village, no transport facility and not even medical facilities.
This “Island” is situated near the border village Makora Pattan, surrounded by Ravi and Ujj rivers on two sides. It also touches the international border of Pakistan on its third side. BSF has four posts here to curb infiltration.
Gurnam Singh, Sarpanch of village Toor said that the district authorities had dismantled the temporary Pontoon bridge by which more than seven villages-- Toor, lasiyan, Chebey, Pariyaal, Kajle, Chumbri, Kukker and Mamian Chakk have been cut off with the district.
Singh said that panic grips every time when the water level rises in Ravi and Ujj rivers. “The Government has not given safety jackets to the villagers nor taken any precautionary measures for the safety of these residents,” Singh said.
He said that none of the successive governments over the years have shown any interest in developing this backward area.
Balwinder Singh, youth zonal in-charge of youth Congress and resident of Makora Pattan said, “Due to lack of basic facilities like transport, electricity, road and medical, the residents feel like second class citizens in India. The swollen water level means three months holiday for school children and no health and medical care facility for patients and pregnant women.”
Balwinder said that a primary school upto class five has been running in lasiyan, Toor and Mamian and secondary school upto class 8 has been running in village Pariyal. But in the rainy season and because of dismantled bridge, no teacher comes on boat and schools practically remai close.
local residents said that soil erosion is also assuming dangerous proportions due to floods and about 150 acre of land has already been flown away. They said that the demand for construction of a permanent bridge has been made repeatedly but to no avail.
Villagers said the State Government has abdicated its responsibility after providing a boat to commute with the remaining district and two boatmen to ferry the people. But the boat service also remains closed after sunset or after warnings of rising water level danger in the area.
Officials admit that due to the difficult terrain, it was quite a task to provide appropriate facility to the residents of these villages.
They said the pontoon bridge has been dismantled as it can not be crossed in the monsoons due to heavy discharge.