Katang village caught in Stone age period
Source: The Sangai Express / Ng Liklaileima

Imphal, November 13 2008: ''It is a very difficult task to cross the suspension bridge while carrying loads on the head.

But as there is no other alternative, we have been enduring this sort of existence for the last four years'', said Thuiri of Katang village in Tousem sub-divisions of Tamenglong district.

Located at a distance of 130 kms from Imphal, the suspension bridge that has been alluded to by Thuiri is nothing more than two strings of iron wirings with bamboo splinters as border and its breadth just enough for one person to pass along that have been strung up across the Barak river serving as the main communication line between the people of Tousem and Tamei sub-divisions of Tamenglong district.

As the proposed construction of an RCC bridge across the river has not materialised, the people of the two sub-divisions situated on either side of the river banks have been relying on this precarious suspension bridge for the last four years.

People crossing the precariously hung suspension bridge over the Barak river

For the villagers of Katang to come to the headquarters of Tousem sub-divisions, one has to walk on foot for atleast two days as there is no proper road system.

So in order to bring any essential commodities or other goods for survival, the people of Katang village have to either go to the nearest Tamei sub-divisional headquarters after crossing the 60 metre long suspension bridge or to the neighbouring Peren district of Nagaland State after travelling on vehicle for around 6 hours.

Over and above this, the nearest health centre for the people of Katang village is the Primary Health Centre at Tamei sub-divisional headquarters.

Here too it is it is nothing sort of an ordeal for the villagers to come for medical assistance after crossing the suspension bridge.

As the bridge is not large enough to allow crossing of four persons carrying a sick person on a stretcher made of bamboo at one time, the patient has to be piggybacked.

Talking to The Sangai Express, 45-year old Thuiri who came crossing the suspension carrying 50 kg of rice on her head, informed that her family has been doing cultivation work at Dikeoram village, located just beyond Barak river.

So after the harvest, the paddy or any other crops have to be brought home crossing over the suspension bridge.

She further informed that the suspension bridge over the Barak river has been only lifeline of the villagers of Katang.

It would be very grateful, if a proper bridge is constructed and people can cross over it with any difficulties, she wished.

It may be recalled here that few years after the inauguration of a proper suspension bridge constructed over Barak river by the then Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong district in 1998, the same had been swept away in the strong water current of the river.

The present suspension bridge that has been serving as the only line of communication with the outside world had been constructed by the villagers of Katang themselves in place of the swept away bridge.

To ameliorate the difficulties of the people, North Eastern Council (NEC) had reportedly sanctioned Rs 6 crores for construction of a proper RCC bridge.

Works Minister K Ranjit Singh had even paid an inspection visit in this connection towards the beginning of the current year.

Following the inspection of the Works Minister, Public Works Department had laid the foundation stone for construction of the bridge in February this year and construction work on the side of Katang village had been started.

But the construction work has been stopped since March this year.

According to former Chairman of Katang Village D Dougizeimi, the quality of the work on construction of the bridge was not maintained. He explained that at the time of constructing the columns of the bridge, the boring had not been done till the original soil level.

So after the villagers complained against the manner of executing the work, the construction work on the bridge has been stopped.

Dougizeimi further informed that it is not possible to bring all the essential commodities of the villagers of Katang from Nagaland.

Moreover, as the present suspension bridge is in a precarious condition, there had been instances in the past in which a woman who suffered from complication during the child birth was taken to Nagaland for treatment instead of taking her to the Primary Health Centre at Tamei sub-divisional headquarters as there is no proper road.

Although the woman could be saved, the child could not, he recalled.

Drawing the attention of all concerned, Dougizeimi urged the Government to complete the construction work of the bridge at the earliest possible in consideration of the difficulties being suffered by the people of the remote area.