NEW TEHRI: In his famous speech after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Hirakud Dam in 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru told countrymen, “If you have to suffer, you should do so in the interest of the country.”
But, people of New Tehri and surrounding areas are sure that it is only the poor who are made to suffer and are sacrificed at the altar of the development.
The construction of India's largest dam here submerged the old town of Tehri and the population was moved to a town which is called New Tehri now.
The dam and its reservoir separated hundreds of villages from each other. In 2006, the then chief minister N D Tiwari approved the construction of a bridge on the Bhagirathi River. It was to be named as Dobra-Chanti Bridge.
But, after a decade, people are still waiting to walk on the bridge.
The 440-metre long bridge, which was to reconnect over 150 villages, has seen over Rs 130 crores, three governments and many “experts”.
In the absence of bridge, villagers cross the river on boat and then climb a steep mountain to reach the other side. Or they have an option of about 100 km long road journey.
“What was earlier a small walk for us is now an arduous journey,” says Sudama Bhatt, an ex-army man.
“Every chief minister comes and promises that the bridge will be built, but it’s been a decade-long wait for us. The bridge should have been built along with the dam. But, the fact is that, only poor like us are sacrificed in the name of development,” he said.
The work of the heavy motor vehicle suspension bridge kicked off in 2007 and was to be completed in 2008 at a cost of Rs 79 crore.
Then followed a survey that suddenly announced that the bridge may be unsafe. A revised estimate was made which put the cost of the bridge at Rs 128.53 cr along with an additional length of 44 meters.
After nine years, a portion -- 320 meters-- has been completed at a whooping cost of Rs 130 cr.
“The work was suspended in 2012. It restarted in January this year. We are told this time that it will be completed in 18 months as there is a Korean company involved now,” said Mastram, who owns a shop near the proposed bridge. “Look at the board. It says it all,” he said, while pointing to a board at the construction site which puts the cost of the project at Rs 135.0029 crore and a duration of 18 months.
Start a Conversation
Post comment