In an independent study conducted by social activist Greneth Sangma, a total of 83 timber bridges were found to be functional in the entire district of South Garo Hills, pointing to the extreme woes faced by people of the area.
Greneth found 21 timber bridges on National Highway 62, the main lifeline of the district, 35 on the Sibbari-Chokpot route, five on the Baghmara-Moheskola route, eight on the Dimapara-Ruga road, two on the Ashugre-Rimrangpara road, three incomplete bridges between Rongku Chokpot to Deku Bazaar and nine between the PHE Junction to Gittingre.
Other than NH62, which falls under the National Highways Division, the rest of the roads fall under the state Public Works Department.
“I have submitted my findings to the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills, SF Hamid, and sought action on the matter. Most of these bridges are major lifelines to different villages and need to be upgraded with immediate effect,” said Greneth.
According to the activist, the data was collected separately from the state PWD and from the Executive Engineer of NH-62 Division. He also mentioned that the data was collected from people residing in different parts of the district that face difficulties in movement of goods and services in their day to day lives.
The timber bridges, he felt, were an indicator of the neglect that the district has seen since decades, a scenario that has not changed despite the district being in existence for almost three decades.
As per his findings, despite acting as a lifeline to the people the bridges pose a direct threat to the lives of daily commuters.
“It is a way for transportation, a mechanism for survival, education, health and connecting from one place to another. It also affects tourism in the district and its modernization will pave the way for wiping out poverty in the long-run-and improve the lives of the people,” said Sangma.
Greneth, through his letter to the DC, felt that the administration and the state government needed to immediately intervene to improve the transport infrastructure.
“To ensure better lives for the people, these bridges need to be immediately upgraded to RCC structures. I urge the state government and the concerned departments to look into the matter very seriously and to take necessary steps to reduce the traditional way of connecting people through upgradation of existing wooden bridges in the district,” said the activist.
