VALPOI: More than a month after the Paikul Bridge on the Ragada River in Sattari Taluka was swept away in an unprecedented flood witnessed on July 23, the villages under Pancirayat Guleli which had been cut off from the mainland finally got a temporary bridge.
The Department of Water Resources (WRD) has built a bridge in Murmune Village, which borders Paikul Village, using an iron board.
Assistant Engineer Sattari WRD, Shailesh Pokle told Toi that a strong iron board had been placed on the embankment.
“The bridge has been secured with an iron pipe on both sides for safety,” he said.
The government has announced that the new bridge will be built at a cost of Rs 12.5 Crore.
The source said that the tender in this case would float as soon as the State Cabinet has given its agreement.
On August 18, the villagers of Melauli, Paikul, Dhada, Shel, Mainguinium and Murmune threatened to block the highway in Guleli Village if the reconstruction of the Paikul Bridge did not start within 15 days.
After the Paikul Bridge was swept away, the government had made a temporary road that was available through Bondla wildlife asylum, but the locals found it uncomfortable because not only was a long route to the mainland, but also traveling at night was impossible.
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The source said that the temporary bridge was built on a war footing on the Badami Pramod Badami Chief Engineer instruction.
The work was carried out by the Shailesh Pokle Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer Aziz Shah and Pawan Warak, among others.