The long-pending dream of the natives of Nadnalli has still remained unfulfilled though one more monsoon is passing through. They had thought that at least during this rainy season they could approach the town by using a hanging bridge.
Nadnalli, coming under Kottanalli village belonging to Bettadalli GP limits includes about 23 families, constituting a population of over 100. It becomes literally an island during the monsoon, as there are no means of connecting it with the rest of the world, except two delicate hanging bridges, which the villagers themselves have constructed.
As two streams of Kumaradhara river fence the area on its two edges, it becomes inevitable for the residents to use two hanging bridges to cross them, especially in the rainy season.
Foundation stone had been laid for constructing a proper hanging bridge 10 months ago, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 17 lakh. Malnad Abhivriddi Mandali had sanctioned Rs 4 lakh for the purpose. However, as nobody knows the exact reason, the project has not taken off till date.
As a result, the villagers have once again following the usual procedure of constructing a bridge using some wild creepers this year also. In one place, on should cross the bridge after climbing a tree for 4-5 feet, which needs sufficient experience and courage!
Problems galore
Children should walk about four kms to reach their school in Bidalli. As water flow increases during heavy rain, children should stay in some relatives houses on the other side of the river, unable to return to their own houses.
And in order to reach the high school, students should not only walk four kms till Kotnalli, but also travel in a bus to Shantalli. The situation worsens further in the monsoon when the bus frequency too becomes irregular.
The villagers need to store food materials much ahead of the rainy season. Once monsoon begins, they should carry everything on their head. In case of emergency, one cannot imagine the consequences.
Cardamom, the only source of income, has also failed totally here, while the newly planted coffee saplings have been affected by the incessant rains. “Now the villagers are earning their livelihood by growing vegetable. They lead a miserable life,” says Bettadalli GP President K N Shivanna.