Udupi, Feb 16: As many as 30 Christian families, living in Baavali Kudru, an island, spread across 100 acres since six generations have demanded for a permanent bridge connecting the Kudru to the mainland Neelavar, near Brahmavar.
During rainy seasons River Sita inundates many parts of the island. In the year 1969 floods made the residents to shift from their houses, to the safer places. In the absence of a bridge, residents have resorted to small boats as a means of transport.
Many families of `Baavali Kudru' (Bats' Island) near Brahmavar in Udupi taluk have already abandoned the island and students from many other families have been staying in their relatives house outside the island, fearing to cross the river during rainy season. These families have been struggling since 30 years to get a bridge connecting the island sanctioned by the government.
Though the Zilla Panchayath has prepared an estimate of Rs 33 lakhs for constructing a bridge, the process has not taken the momentum, for the short of funds. Prashanth Neelavara, a resident of Baavali Kudru said that Rajyasabha member Oscar Fernandies has allotted Rs 15 lakhs from his MP's Local Area Development Fund and Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has agreed to give Rs 5 lakhs from his MLA fund. Still they need another Rs 13 lakhs to start the work.
According to Silvia, "Now I have learnt pulling the boat. Can you imagine we peddling the boat during rainy season?''. She said that she had not admitted her six year old boy to the school, as he is scared of crossing the river in a boat.
Apolin, another resident of Baavali Kudru, recalls two of her sons luckily surviving a boat tragedy, while crossing the River Seeta. Apolin's son doing his diploma resides in his relatives house in Brahmavar, to avoid the hassles. According her newly married daughters in law hesitate to live in the Island and ultimately vacate the island to live in rented houses in the mainland.
One Joseph D'souza takes the residents from one riverbank to another. According to him many of the residents of the island take the boat themselves. Will their dream to have a bridge come true soon?
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