Residents of the two districts demand a concrete bridge over the Damodar in Burnpur

Ramakrishna Chatterjee, Asansol, West Burdwan:- How close, yet how far! A section of the residents of nearly three hundred villages in Bankura's Saltora, Chhatna and Mejia and Purulia's Santuri and Nituria blocks rush to the Asansol industrial area in search of education, medical treatment and livelihood. They work as temporary workers in various factories here. Residents of the Asansol area on the other side rush to the other side due to the attraction of Biharinath and Shushunia in Bankura and the Baranti tourist center in Santuri block of Purulia. There is also the stone industry, various mineral resources and affordable agricultural crops in Bankura's Shushunia which can radically change the economic map of the three districts. All in all, the government's revenue can increase. But the Damodar river flowing through the middle has been left out. There is no water in the Damodar almost all year round. But during the monsoon, when there is excessive rain, the river takes on a dangerous shape. When water is released from various reservoirs, the situation becomes even more dire. The temporary bamboo and wooden bridges connecting the two banks often break due to the impact of the current. Then the 5 km. road becomes 60 km. in a roundabout way. Both time and cost increase. Or, thousands of people have to come to Asansol by boat, risking their lives. The common people are in extreme danger. A concrete bridge is needed over the Damodar near Nehru Park in Burnpur for a permanent solution to the problem. To fulfill the demand, the 'Damodar Biharinath Setu Bandhan Committee' has been formed with the residents of both banks. Intense agitation and sit-in began. On March 18, 2008, the then Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan laid the foundation stone of the proposed 720-meter concrete bridge over the Damodar. The cost was estimated at 50 crore rupees and it was sanctioned. But the bridge has not been built even today. It is not known what happened to the sanctioned money. Although many claim that since the panchayat elections were ahead, the Left MPs from both banks got the foundation stone of the bridge laid by the Union Minister! However, the 'Damodar Biharinath Bridge Bandhan Committee' has already started collecting signatures from residents on both sides demanding a permanent bridge. They have handed over a memorandum to the district administration officials on both sides. Their demands have also been brought to the attention of the state Chief Minister. State Minister Malay Ghatak and current Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha have assured the appropriate authorities of taking action on the matter. Asansol South MLA Agnimitra Pal has shirk her responsibility by severely criticizing the state government through a tweet on her handle. Although it is heard that she recently had a meaningful discussion with State Minister Malay Ghatak regarding the permanent bridge. Recently, the temporary bridge was broken by the flow of water due to the release of a large amount of water from two reservoirs. As a result, the residents of Bankura bank are in dire straits. A tribal couple from Burnpur is panicking about their livelihood. Residents of both districts say, we are hardworking people who do not understand politics. We want public representatives of all levels, regardless of party affiliation, to come forward jointly and draw the attention of both governments to the demand for a concrete bridge. If the work on the Ghatal River project starts, why won't there be a concrete bridge here? Chandan Mishra, on behalf of the Setu Bandhan Committee, said, "We have already drawn the attention of the central and state governments to the demand for a concrete bridge. Hopefully, both governments will take effective steps quickly to build a concrete bridge for the benefit of the people of the area."