CANACONA: Since the Manohar Parrikar Sea-Side Link was thrown open to traffic, the unremoval of the temporary bridge fabricated to ferry workers and material on either side of Galgibaga River is posing a serious hazard not only to the river but to the locals who are using it to cross the river.
The locals residing on either side of river since the earliest settlement here used to cross this river by a canoe for various reasons.
The locals even now inadvertently have to cross this river throughout the year as there are schools, religious institutions, doctors and market places on either side.
The construction and commissioning of the Manohar Parrikar Sea-Side Link in November last year has been a huge plus for the residents of the Galgibaga and Loliem-Polem as the distance for them to reach Chaudi, the administrative headquarters of the Taluka has got reduced by about 10km.
“In spite this road link running right through the heart of Galgibaga-Mashem village it is of no use to whoever wanting to cross the river on foot,” says locals.
They say that the distance over the river which is just over 100mts becomes more than a kilometre as the places to ascend and descend from this road are far from the river jetties on either side.
Due to this difficulty, the locals have been demanding a foot bridge. Since the start of the construction of this 7.74km NH-66 link road the ferry service has also been stopped as the jetties on each side has a lot of unwanted material making it difficult for the ferry to dock.
Locals including some school children since last couple of years are using the one-metre wide sort of a bridge welded together using scrap material.
But the structure in spite of being corroded due to the extreme weather conditions prevailing is still being used to cross the river risking their life, concerned locals argue.
Anthony Dias, a local resident of Mashem, speaking to Herald said that the 6 mm iron metal plates placed to walk are corroded and they are hanging there precariously.
"In the absence of a foot bridge we need this structure but not at the cost of the life of locals who cross this section.”
Another local living on the Galgibaga side of the river informed that the demand of the locals for a foot bridge is not met with yet.
"There are about 200 residents living on either side the of the Galgibaga River at Galgibaga and Mashem and the walking distance over the Galgibaga Bridge is too much, that's the reason locals are demanding a foot bridge just like we have at Sadolxem," another concerned citizen summed up.
When this correspondent brought the situation to the attention of the local MLA and deputy speaker Isidore Fernandes, he said that he is with the locals as far as the demand for a pedestrian bridge is concerned.
"The PWD is instructed to seek permissions from authorities to build a pedestrian bridge on this river and the paper work is held up due to the COVID-19 pandemic this is what I am informed by the PWD officials".
When this correspondent spoke with the local PWD officials they said that they have applied for NOC from various authorities concerning the construction of this foot bridge. “Once we get the required permissions we will go ahead with the formalities to do estimates for the bridge constructions,” informed a source from Canacona PWD.