Statesman News Service
NAZOK (Kalimpong), March 20. — Villagers living on the left bank of the Teesta were happy with the construction of a bridge on the river by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
With the construction of the much-needed bridge, the villagers got relief from crossing the dangerous twin ropeway, installed almost 50 years back.
However, if the NHPC officials are to be believed, the bridge, installed in January this year, will be withdrawn in May as the river will be diverted to the left bank for further NHPC work.
Mr Sahadev Khatua, chief engineer of TLDP-III (NHPC), said: “There is nothing to worry as the river will be diverted to the left bank. We have sanctioned an amount of Rs 3 lakhs for the setting up of a suspension ropeway. This will act more as a bridge.” He said that the suspension bridge will hold the capacity of carrying a maximum of eight people at a time.
Villages, such as Nazok forest busty, Sepkhola, Lower Dung, Suruk, Samthar and Mandir Khola all fall under the Kalimpong sub-division. These villages are about 85 km away from here. The bridge installed by the NHPC over the Teesta had, however, shortened the distance by at least 60 km. “We depend on agriculture for our livelihood. It was difficult for us to carry our produces, such as ginger and oranges, through the ropeway. The bridge constructed by the NHPC had partially solved our problem,” said Mr Bhim Bhujel, a resident of Nazok.
“The bridge has been acting as a backbone or a lifeline for us, as the dangers involved in crossing the Teesta are no more. Besides, we do not have to pay anymore for crossing the river,” Mr Ramond Dewan (25) of Sepkhola, said.
The decision of the NHPC officials to withdraw the bridge, however, has left the villagers in a state of panic.