A Village Leader - A Saviour
By N K Dutta
Towards August end 1980, I got information from Executive Engineer Teliamura that part of SPT bridge at Taidu had been damaged due to flood in the cherra. I wanted to see the bridge and also the road beyond to the extent possible. On hearing it the EE arranged another jeep on the other side of cherra also as the bridge was broken. I was told at the damaged bridge site that the jeep was owned by a private person who dismantled his jeep for carrying to the other side of cherra.. It was then carried on the other side of the cherra on head and then assembled. Such was the ingenuity!!
On earlier occasions when I used to walk for inspection, a Village Pradhan used to accompany me. One day when I was crossing Baishyamanipara, I told the Village Pradhan that he could go to his village. He said that he would accompany me for another 1-1/2 km as he had information that some bad elements were active in the said area. If he accompanied me, then they would thought twice to do any mischief. He accompanied me further and then returned.
On the day of visit I started early and reached Teliamura. The EE was ready. We had a quick cup of tea. While taking tea, EE informed me that one Village leader of Ompi area got information of my proposed visit. He wanted me to abandon the idea of the visit that day. He came previous day and stayed at Teliamura to talk to me to refrain me . As he was available, I requested the EE to bring him.
He came immediately. Before I said anything he earnestly requested me not to go that day. When I asked whether it was in order to visit the damaged bridge at Taidu, his reply was affirmative. We, therefore, decided to go upto Taidu.
On reaching Taidu we inspected the bridge. On examination we found that the damage was not major and could be repaired in two to three days. Arrangement was made to cross the cherra on foot. Some entrepreneur owner-drivers had taken their jeeps to the other side. I thought that it was after all a good service to people.
While we spent some time there, a jeep came rushing with breakneck speed and stopped on the other side. The driver came running with fear in his eye. He informed that just fifteen minutes ago one jeep of BSF was ambushed at Tetuibari killing one Officer and three jawans. They aimed at his vehicle also. One passenger got minor injuries. As far as I remember one Assistant Commendar and and three jawans were killed there.
According to our estimate we could have been at Tetuibari exactly at the same time. The extremists had developed good information system. My proposed visit was, perhaps, known to them. I could have been a prized target for them.
The Village leader saved my life. But for him, my life would have been terminated in August 1980. The local people/ leaders were my most trusted friends. I advised all my EE's that in tribal areas we would get the work done through tribals without bringing contractors. The list of tribal contractors would be given by Panchayats. I did not inform my near ones immediately. On a later day I informed in a diluted form.
In our Circle we decided that we would continue visiting sensitive areas taking advice from the local Village head or influential person. I was fortunate enough to develop such good relationships and decided that minor works in difficult tribal areas would be carried out through local tribals. Noticing the positive impact, Government advised all divisions to follow it.
Submersible Bridge in Tripura.
I have informed how a new road from Jampuijala to Champaknagar passing through sensitive areas was taken up. There were many other roads which I am not mentioning. A major problem remained - how to bridge cherras and rivers. In the road mentioned above, we had to deal with two cherras and bridge over Haora River at Champaknagar.
On local enquiries, we found that after heavy rain, flood conditions remain for a couple of hours in the two cherra and then water recedes, when vehicles can pass over the river bed. So, we decided to construct simple submersible bridges over these two cherras.
River Haora was a little different. After heavy rains, there used to be 3 to 4 feet of water for 5/6 hours. For the two cherras mentioned, we simply concreted the river bed. These were the first submersible bridges in Tripura. For Haore submersible Bridge, the work was taken up in two halves guiding the water flow. River bed of one half was excavated and concrete poured under water through tremie. An intelligent local blacksmith was given a hand sketch and thoroughly explained. He made the tremie properly. With the tremie concrete was poured satisfactorily. These were the first submersible bridge and tremie concreting in Tripura. Scour occurs severely on the downstream side of a bridge. To save cost, EE was advised to place indent for completely caked cement from Stores Division. These were headaches for Stores Division but served our purpose well. Many other submersible bridges were constructed. Later, these were replaced by permanent bridges.
I would mention here that the length of road per square kilometres of the state was much lower than the national average. After the policy was taken to connect interior areas, the state average exceeded the national average.