People of Ratabari make risky boat journey

Silchar, Sept 15: In the absence of a bridge over river Shingla to connect Owagirband and Sherpur under Ratabari Part-I in the district of Karimganj, people take risky journey by boats everyday to crossover from either side. Ashim Biswas, resident of Ratabari, semi urban habitation, said, “We have been pressing hard for the introduction of mechanized boat or proper ferry services for the convenience of hundreds of people of the areas for their safe and easy journey. Our representations to the successive MPs and MLAs have fallen on deaf ears.”

Rofique Uddin Laskar, another resident, said though there are surface communications like roads and railway, the links to interior places are maintained through the river connectivity between Owagirband and Sherpur. This brings out, according to him, the justification for the construction of a bridge. Moreover, the condition of Karimganj-Anipur-Ratabari road is not good and the rail services through Baroigram are one pair of passenger trains only. Elderly persons of the areas have expressed their concern at the way the school and college going students have to take to the boat services both ways from their homes to the educatiol institutions during the high floods of river Shingla, origiting from Mizoram hills.

 While crossing the river, there is always the lurking fear of boats being disbalanced and capsized due to overloading. But, there is no altertive and the students and women in particular have to make a risky journey. Kripath Mallah, MLA of Ratabari, despite repeated attempts could not be contacted to know if there is any plan to construct a bridge over Shingla to connect Owagirband with Sherpur. When the bridge comes up, it will help the villagers of hundreds of interior places to get easy and safe passage for journey. This will also be time saving as the distance will be shortened.