Ramanallur residents urge govt to resume bridge work soon to avert further tragedy

Following the death of three persons recently in a boat tragedy, the residents have now urged the state government to commence the construction work at the earliest to avert further tragedy.

Kollidam River flows along the Thirumanur in Ariyalur district and Papanasam in Thanjavur district. The Mela Ramanallur and Keezha Ramanallur are the islets of Kollidam along Thirumanur, where more than 500 families live and cultivate on around 500-hectare land.

The residents utilise local boat service to Kabistalam and Papanasam in Thanjavur district, which is hardly 10 minutes travel, which makes these villagers to have more association with the Thanjavur district than the Ariyalur district, which is around 40 km away from their village. Whenever there is no water in the Kollidam, people cross the river by foot.

In such a backdrop, the people had been insisting on the state government to construct a bridge connecting the Mela Ramanallur, Thirumanur block in Ariyalur district and Kudikadu in Papanasam block in Thanjavur district and the state government had sanctioned a fund of Rs 55 crore. Agriculture Minister R Doraikannu had laid the foundation stone for the bridge in 2017. However, the works have not been started.

“Had the bridge constructed and opened for the public utility, three lives had not been lost in the boat capsize on September 11,” said K Ramesh, a resident from Mela Ramanallur. He said that the people use the boat service when the Kollidam witnesses heavy flow of water. Otherwise, they simply go by walk.

In these circumstances, the residents from the islets have been demanding a bridge across the river since they risk their lives to reach the other side in Thanjavur and hence the demand to commence the construction work at the earliest to avert further tragedy.

Due to the release of water in Kollidam river from September 8, the residents and students of these islets started taking ferries to go to markets, schools, colleges and other places in Thanjavur.

On September 11 evening, 41 persons from Thanjavur came to Mela Ramanallur by boat, attended the temple festival and while returning, the boat capsized due to overload. Three persons died while others either swam to safety or rescued by the special team.