Dhanusha people want bridge and embankment, not empty promises

People from over a dozen of villages, including Sarasa, Rampur and Labatoliya from Dhanushadham Municipality in Janakpur district have made up their mind to cast their votes to those candidates who would help address their long-enduring problems.

Lack of bridge over the Baluwa River, and inundation and soil erosion during monsoon have been recurring problems dogging these localities that lie in Dhanusha constituency no 1.

Shyamadevi Yadav of Rampur shared that due to absence of a bridge over the Baluwa River they were facing sheer difficulties in reaching Dhanushadham that is merely five kilometers away from their village. She informed them that they cross the river taking risks to reach the nearest market during the monsoon.

Similarly, another local Sitadevi revealed that they had repeatedly appraised the local representatives about the loss incurred by the flood in the river and the need for a bridge over it, but to no avail. She ranted that although some technicians had done a survey of the bridge some months ago, no tangible works were carried out in this regard thereafter.

Hence, they are resolute that those who could ensure them of an embankment and bridge in the river would get their votes in the November 20 parliamentary election.

What afflicts many of the locals is the hollow promises of the election candidates, according to Ramchandra, a local from Lavatoliya. He explained that election hopefuls give them high hopes before the voting, but once elected they hardly revisit their constituencies to fulfill their promises.

Outgoing Mayor of Dhanushadham Municipality, Baleshwor Mandal, admitted that he had initiated a bridge over the Baluwa River during his tenure but it could not succeed. "I do not know about the latest progress on the matter at the moment."