Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Pics: Prince Mahesh

Udupi, Jun 5: Puthige bridge near Perdoor on national highway that lies on the road between the town and Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district, which is the easiest communication line between these two districts, is facing peril. The bridge, built by the then Mysore government long back, is giving rise to anxious moments to its users and locals alike.

This bridge was built in 1965 and since then it has not undergone repair, renovation, or restoration work. The bed of crushed stones which forms the base of the three pillars supporting this bridge has been washed away due to the force of water, posing danger to the bridge. Now, a person can easily swim across the bottom of the bridge to the other side. As one of the pillars has been solidly supporting the bridge at present, everything looks satisfactory but in reality, the situation is grim.

Local social worker, Ganesh Raj Saralebettu, says that the fragility of the bridge can be experienced by standing over it. He notes that the pillar supporting the bridge needs to be repaired urgently. Many vehicles pass through this bridge everyday, and people rarely walk across this 120 metres long bridge. A close look reveals that the bridge appears like tilting to one side. A huge crater is created over this concrete bridge but the department concerned has totally neglected the precarious situation. The local MLA mentions that this road, which forms part of the highway, falls under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is a central government department. The locals say that MP, Shobha Karandlaje, has expressed her inability to personally visit the bridge now, and asked the concerned to give a representation in writing.

Another local, Sudhakar, too feels that the department has to take emergent action to save the bridge. He warned that the people will complain to the deputy commissioner of the district and then block vehicular traffic on this road if the needful is not done. He said that preventive measures have to be undertaken before the situation goes out of hand. As the base of the pillars has become weak, immediate action has to be taken, he stated.

This part of the highway falls under Sringeri sub-division of NHAI and the division needs to depute its engineers to get a report on the ground reality. An official of this division has said that the division will prepare an estimate about the repairs and add the same in its annual plan.

River Swarna, which used to be an abode of hundreds of life forms, has gone dry since the last four years. Because of the fact that the water of this river is sweet, people use it for various purposes including drinking. As the river is dry now, it looks like a vast plain with pits of water here and there. The municipality has now given the work of pumping water from these pits by calling for tender.

Waste that has been disposed off in the river is visible because the river is dry. Things like bundles of clothes, idols of gods, hair disposed off after offering the same to god, sickle made of iron, old stone forms of serpent god, Shiva Linga, equipment used for shredding coconut etc can be seen stored at the bottom of the river. People also follow the practice of letting earthen pots containing ashes after burning bodies in this river too. Because of rocks, these things have been currently blocked from flowing further down.

The locals share concerns about this phenomenon, but currently there is no solution at hand. They feel that to retain the sanctity and purity of this river, we should ensure that people do not convert it into a dirty river full of animal and human waste in which carcasses of animals and mortal remains of human beings are dumped. Dredging needs to be undertaken urgently in this river so that rain water flows there in abundance. Departments concerned should work in unison to make this happen. This, coupled with the will power of people's representatives, can only protect the interests of the people.