News
Collapsed bridge in Welimada disrupts daily life
View(s):By K Rajamanthri
One year after part of the bridge over Uma Oya, close to the Welimada town, got washed away, villagers are still waiting for a response from authorities, expecting the bridge to be restored.
The Welimadagama village and the Sudharshanaramaya temple were linked by the bridge, and it was also an alternative road to farmers.
Heavy rains in Uva Paranagama–Bomburuella, leading to the overflowing of Uma Oya, resulted in part of the bridge being washed away a year ago.
Since then, villagers have been appealing to the Welimada Pradeshiya Sabha as well as relevant government authorities, but their pleas have been ignored.
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- The damaged bridge
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- A group of Daham Pasal students using the broken bridge
Villagers said that, despite the risks, they have been forced to use the damaged bridge to reach their homes.
S R Nirosha from Welimadagama who does farming, said the bridge and road have fallen apart and they use a small damaged part to cross over.
When the water level rises they face a difficulty in transporting their produce to the market, she said.
During the rains they take a circuitous road, paying at least Rs 400 to transport their vegetables to the market.
Pregnant women find it particularly difficult to cross the bridge, she said, adding that the authorities should construct a new bridge instead of trying to renovate the old one.
Viharadhikari of the Sudharshanaramaya in Welimadagama, Dikkapitiya Mehananda thera said devotees from Welimada visited the temple via this bridge but are no longer able to do so.
The bridge was constructed in 1934 and helped some 500 families, he said.
The monk also said that taking the alternative route means villagers have to spend an additional 30 minutes to reach Welimada town.
Chairman of the Welimada Pradeshiya Sabha D M Ajith Kumar said that though the bridge that collapsed had a width of four feet, people are now demanding a motorable bridge.
He said it is questionable whether the high expenditure for such a bridge could be justified given its remote location.
He said that the Pradeshiya Sabha does not have sufficient funds for the construction, and that they plan to appeal to the Uva Provincial Council to do the construction instead.
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