Pandemic gives boost to construction of footbridge in this village

Mangaluru: As the state grapples with rising nuber Covid-19 cases, two expert teams are working on the construction of a footbridge that will help agriculture and water conservation activities in the Kadoor panchayat limits of Udupi district.
Kadoor panchayat development officer Mahesh K said, “Under MGNREGS, we have been undertaking the construction of a footbridge since 2016, and we have completed construction of four footbridges by early this year.”
“The demand for work under MGNREGS is on the rise due to the pandemic and we decided to focus on the construction of such bridges that will help agriculture activities. These bridges also act as bunds and thus help in water conservation. We have two expert teams trained to build footbridges. The best part is that people will not complain about the quality, because they are aware of the material being used and locals are part of the construction. These footbridges are ideal for this terrain, especially during monsoon. People use them to carry milk to the dairy and in certain areas, based on the requirement, people can also move their tiller on it,” he said.
The construction of two footbridges was completed during the lockdown and work on two more is under progress. Meanwhile, a proposal for the construction of three more footbridges to be built under the MGNREGS has been submitted for approval. The approximate cost for the construction of a footbridge is around Rs 60,000. “We are trying the bridge the gap in society by providing people connectivity and the resulting economic development,” he added.
Kadoor panchayat comprises Nadoor and Kadoor villages, and most of the footbridges are being constructed at Nadoor. Meanwhile, under MGNREGS, people are coming forward for the construction of cow sheds and poultry sheds. The community works are being monitored and supported by Preeti Gehlot, CEO zilla panchayat, Udupi. The village has turned into a role model for its community projects, especially with the revival of madakas, a traditional rainwater harvesting system, and construction of footbridges.