Bridge over troubled waters? Not for these border villages in monsoon - Hindustan Times
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Bridge over troubled waters? Not for these border villages in monsoon

Hindustan Times | ByKamaljit Singh Kamal, Gurdaspur
Jun 28, 2016 08:38 PM IST

For eight border villages on the banks of the Ravi at Makora Pattan (ferry) in Gurdaspur district, monsoon means no access to education and health facilities.

These border villages, located on the Indo-Pak border, include Toor, Lasiyan, Chebe, Bharyal, Kajle, Mammian Chak, Kukkar and Chumbi. With a sparse population of 1,200, these villages remain cut off from the mainland for at least three months. This is a regular occurrence every year, as the public works department dismantles the pontoon bridge (floating bridge) across the river at the onset of the rainy season.

A view of the pontoon bridge across Ravi river at Makora Pattan in Gurdaspur district.(HT Photo)
A view of the pontoon bridge across Ravi river at Makora Pattan in Gurdaspur district.(HT Photo)

HEALTH AND EDUCATION DENIED

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However, the district administration claims that it provides transport services regularly to residents of these villages. Deputy commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal said two boats had been pressed into service exclusively for carrying people to and from these villages.

But residents complain that it is difficult for people, especially pregnant women, to have access to medical care in case of emergency.

Villagers also allege that teachers are unable to reach the primary school at Lasiyan, that also covers Toor and Mammian villages, and the middle school at Bharial when the water rises. Farmers’ Woes Farmers rue that the Ravi has, in the past, washed away over 150 acres of fertile land in these villages. The villagers also said leaders in the area were oblivious to their problems. When contacted, Pathankot PWD Manmohan Singh said, “The 225-foot long pontoon bridge across the Ravi is dismantled every year by the middle of June, and reinstated again in October. The bridge supports all sort of traffic, including scooters, motorcycles, cars, small tractors etc. But people do face a lot of issues when it is removed.”

STEP-MOTHERLY TREATMENT

Most villagers feel they are dished out step-motherly treatment by the government, and the situation has more or less remained the same since Independence.

One of them said they were banished to leading the life of primitive tribals. If there’s a power cut, they go without electricity for days, added another.

They say they have been demanding that a concrete bridge be laid over the Ravi at Makora Pattan for decades, but they have been ignored time and again.

Meanwhile, Sabharwal said he would forward their demands for a pukka bridge. He further said he would ensure that the district administration remained in touch with villagers, especially during the rainy season, so that they had access to a normal life even during the rainy season.

BOAT FACILITY NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Villagers also stressed on the fact that the boat facility was closed after sunset and hence was not sufficient to look after their needs.

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