THE PONTOON BRIDGE OVER MAHULI GANGA IS OPENED FOR FOUR MONTHS

THE PONTOON BRIDGE OVER MAHULI GANGA IS OPENED FOR FOUR MONTHS

29-JULY-ENG 8

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------The pontoon bridge built on the Mahuli Ganga river in Bhojpur district has been opened in four months i.e. during the flood season. Due to which the people of Khawaspur on the other side of the Ganga river have to struggle a lot to come to Ara. Due to the strong current in the Ganga, the villagers do not consider it appropriate to take the help of a boat. Many people also travel by boat. There are many people who go to Khawaspur from Ara headquarters for work. They did not have any problem if the bridge was there, but after the bridge is opened, they will have to depend on the boat, choose their second option, but the problem has also started increasing due to the increase in the water level of the Ganga.

This time assembly elections are also going to be held in Bihar. But before the elections in Bihar, floods have called dhaba. The people of Barhara fear floods every year. But before that, just look at this overloaded boat (picture of last month). Not one, two, three, four but a total of 10 bikes are loaded on this boat. Bikes are kept on both sides of the boat. Along with the bike, 15 to 20 people are also sitting. Now the question arises whether their lives are not in danger. There is no life jacket for the people sitting on the boat. The boat gets damaged a lot in the flow of Ganga, if something untoward happens then it can be a big danger.

The number of boats at Mahuli-Khawaspur Ghat is limited. But thousands of people were traveling by boat every day after the opening of the pontoon bridge. But now the number of people must have reduced. The water level in the Ganga has increased a lot. In such a situation, if no basic facilities are available then how much risk will have to be taken. But the surprising thing is that people have been coming and going here in this way for more than 50 years. The reason is that no one felt this problem. It has become a compulsion for the villagers. If someone's health deteriorates then he is taken to Chapra or Uttar Pradesh. If treatment is received on time then life is saved. Otherwise patients have to lose their lives.

Many women teachers go to teach at Khawaspur from Ara headquarters. The problem increases due to the opening of the bridge. The boat does not open until it is fully filled. Sometimes they are not able to reach on time. People (working professionals) have to come earlier and wait for many hours for the boat to fill and open. There is no help from the government. In such a situation, teachers used to go to school every day by boat to teach, risking their lives. Women have to face the most problems. A woman teacher comes from Tarari in Bhojpur district. She travels about 90 kilometers to reach the school.

Women teacher Pratibha Singh says that there are many problems. Due to the opening of the pontoon bridge, we have to wait a lot. We cannot even stay there. Because there is no facility to live there. For this, we will have to do it here, we will have to settle in Uttar Pradesh.

Women teacher Jyoti Sagar says that there is no problem if the pontoon bridge is open. We have to reach at 9:30 and make attendance. We reach the banks of the Ganga at 9 o'clock. But the boat does not open until it is overloaded. The boat is loaded with bikes, sometimes buffaloes and sometimes goats. There is so much weight on the boat and as the wave of the Ganga increases, we start facing a lot of difficulties.

Teacher Jyoti Sagar tells that many people are told by the department to stay in Khawaspur on this side. But how can we stay there? There is neither electricity nor health facility there. Uttar Pradesh is just 3 kilometers from our school. Many teachers want to be transferred to Khawaspur. Who are residents of Uttar Pradesh.

Hare Ram Singh, a resident of Khawaspur village, says that there is a lot of trouble due to the opening of the pontoon bridge. No facilities are available. On the other hand, if someone's health deteriorates at night, then we have to go through Chapra or take him to Uttar Pradesh. Due to which if we bring the patient through Chapra, then we have to travel 100 kilometers.

Villager Ramji Shah says that he is very scared of travelling by boat. But it is a compulsion, we have been coming and going for the last 20 to 25 years. This has been the problem. If a concrete bridge is built on the Ganga river, it will be very convenient. Because this is the route to Ara, Chapra and Ballia. People will get convenience. But the government is not paying attention to this.

Hare Ram Yadav says that his house is near the Ganga bank. He has become used to coming and going. But it is also a compulsion, there is no way.

Sailor Jitendra Manjhi says that after Baba, Dada, father, now we are running the boat. We have been running the boat for a long time and serving. But no one pays attention to us. We run the boat for only 4 months. The expenses that have to be met are met in four months only. But in these four months, we are not able to gather money even to repair the boat. The rate of 30 has been finalized by the government. But the people who come from Khawaspur sometimes give 20 and sometimes only 10. We also keep it.