ERODE: More than 100 tribal families and over 300 families from backward communities living in the remote habitations of Velampatty and Mattimarathalli under the newly formed Kuttaiyur village panchayat In Erode district continue to face prolonged isolation during the monsoon due to the absence of a permanent bridge and all-weather road connectivity.Surrounded by the Palar and Maniyachi rivers, the two habitations remain cut off from the outside world for periods ranging from 20 days to three months every year when the rivers overflow. Residents say the lack of connectivity severely affects access to healthcare, education and essential commodities.Pregnant women, elderly residents and critically ill patients are often forced to travel nearly 40km through Karnataka to reach medical facilities. Schoolchildren also face difficulties attending classes during the rainy season, while the transport of essential goods comes to a standstill.“We feel abandoned whenever the rivers are in spate. If a medical emergency occurs at night, there is virtually no way to reach a hospital quickly. We have been demanding a bridge for years,” says K Murugan of Velampatty.S Malliga of Mattimarathalli says schoolchildren and daily wage earners suffer the most during the monsoon months. “Our children miss classes and families struggle to buy even essential items when the roads are cut off. A permanent solution is urgently needed,” she says.Residents have suggested developing an existing forest road located about 7km from the Bargur-Kargekandi main road in Karnataka to provide direct access to the habitations, subject to technical feasibility and statutory clearances.Highlighting the issue, former Tamil Nadu Students Congress (NSUI) secretary M Balaji has submitted a representation to Congress leader and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, seeking his intervention. In the petition, Balaji has urged Gandhi to recommend the matter to chief minister C Joseph Vijay and press for the construction of a permanent bridge across the Maniyachi river, a joint inspection by the concerned departments and the execution of road connectivity under suitable tribal welfare and rural infrastructure schemes.Balaji says the grievance has already been taken up with the Erode district administration through the District Rural Development Agency.
