SYLHET: A bridge constructed on a narrow canal at a remote village spending Tk 3.0 million comes of no help to the locals. The villagers in Dharmapasaha upazila of Sunamganj still have to use boats to cross the canal.
The locals blamed faulty construction of the bridge for its dereliction as it has no approach road to bridge the gap.
The canal flows through the neighbouring villages -- Nandipara and Kamargaon -- in Chamordani union. During the monsoon inhabitants of the villages have to depend on boats only.
The authority constructed the bridge five years ago at a cost of Tk 3.0 million. But, by now, it is known as a useless structure as there is no approach to the small bridge.
Sufferings of the 150 poor families in the neighbouring areas went extreme after its construction, alleged a number of locals.
Union Parishad member Jibon Krishna Talukder, hailed from village Nandipara, said, "The bridge turned useless since there is no connecting road for that. The locals can't use it for low height. They want a road link at the earliest."
"The structure has now become the cause of sufferings," he added.
Acting Chairman of the Chamordani Union Parishad Wasil Ahmed said, "We have demanded a connecting road to link the neighbouring villages."
An official at the Upazila LGED said the higher authority has already been informed of the problem. A list of bridges having no approaches has also been sent, he added.
"Steps would be taken if required funds were available or sanctioned," he added.