Bridge to be built over Hattimara Khola

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, Oct. 19: A concrete bridge connecting Ward No. 3 and 4 in Bardibas Municipality is all set to be constructed over the Hattimara Khola.  

Bardibas Municipality Mayor Prahlad Chhettri and ward chairs Birat Bista and Bijay Kumar Mahato laid the foundation stone of the bridge on Tuesday. 

The 35-metre long and 3-metre wide bridge is going to be constructed from the internal income of the municipality. The construction of the bridge is expected to be completed within the current fiscal year. 

The municipality initially allocated Rs. 9 million for the construction of the bridge.

The absence of a bridge has caused numerous difficulties for the residents of several villages in Wards No. 3 and 4 of the municipality, especially during the rainy season. The river remains impassable during floods, and even emergency services like ambulances cannot reach the villages in the rainy season. 

Keshav Bahadur Gurmachhane, a local of Raimandal Bhawasi village, said that a four-year-old child bitten by a snake died on the way to the hospital because they could not cross the river during the rainy season. He said that the child passed away while waiting for the water level to subside. 

Mina Pokharel, a local of Ratmata village, said that her mother-in-law lost her life due to diarrhoea because they could not take her to the hospital in Bardibas in time. She said, "If the bridge had been there, she might have survived." 

Mayor Chhetri said that the bridge was going to be constructed to facilitate the villagers. He said that the municipality lacked a budget since the central government reduced it. He added that it was difficult to fulfil the wishes of the public since the budget to the municipality was reduced by Rs. 17 million this year.