In Kezoma Village, this bridge remains a vital link for farmers' to cultivate and harvest their rice paddy. Of late, question of safety arises as the bridge structure has become weak due to lack of maintenance. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express news
Kohima | June 7
In Kezoma Village under Kohima district, this bridge or ope as villagers call it in local dialect remains a vital link for farmers' to cultivate and harvest their rice paddy. However, this decades old lifeline, has weathered years of wear and tear without adequate maintenance.
Zadeho Rikha, an elder of the village recalled how the villagers with the help of a small fund from the state government constructed the bridge.
"Back in 1984, with the small fund from RD Block, the villagers constructed the bridge with iron wires, wood, bamboo, vines," the elder who was the village's VDB secretary back then explained.
Even the support beams are made of wood, yet it continues to stand in its original stature till date displaying the expertise of community. The structure, which spans the Sidzü river artery crossing is "not less than a 100 ft in length," said the elder.
Farmers, who undertake cultivation on the other side of the river, have to ply through the bridge. About 50-60 households undertake cultivate in the area.
Despite the need to maintain the bridge or construct a new one, the village has no resource to do so, nor have they received any help thereafter, Rikha said. Of late, it is becoming more and more difficult to use the bridge due to questions of safety, he pointed out.
In its precarious state, especially keeping in mind the onset of the rainy season and increasing water current, the villagers have to rush cultivation to avoid risks.
Yopose, who operates a power tiller machine in the rice fields, said he had to cross the river with the machine when the water current was low. He then has to finish tilling the numerous fields before the onset of monsoon.
Although no casualties have been reported so far, concerns over safety have been mounting among residents, with visible corrosion of the bridge, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action.
