SAHARSA/PURNEA, Feb. 10 -- Despite infrastructure in Bihar getting attention of both the Central and state governments, the Kosi-Seemanchal region is still dependent on old-style bamboo bridges to combat annual flooding and facilitating transportation. On February 2, Lok Sabha MP from Madhepura Dinesh Chandra Yadav said on the floor of the House that one-km -long bamboo bridge over a catchment area of the turbulent Kosi river at Hatighat in Saharsa's Nauhatta block was nothing but a blot in the face of developed India. He added that though such bridges were lifelines for locals as they were the only available arrangement for transportation, their vulnerability posed risks for their users. "These lifelines are beset with hazards and threats," he said. Locals themselves assemble bamboo and other materials and build these bridges, which sometimes prove hazardous as they collapse because of heavy weight of people, vehicular movement and swift flow of flood waters. Talking to HT, the MP said, "The innovative initiative (of building bamboo bridges) was born out of people's keen observation of the daily struggles faced by them by taking long detour, often facing difficulties in accessing markets, schools, healthcare facilities." "The people took matters into their own hands, created a practical solution by making bamboo bridges, and I must say, this practical solution significantly improved their lives in flood-prone areas. Expressing hope, he said, "The government must look into the matter and I can say that in the coming days you will see permanent bridges replacing bamboo bridges." A 1-km bamboo bridge at Hatighat was constructed for Rs.12 lakh by the people with their own money and it is said to have been made of over 4,000 bamboos and quintals of rope. "This is offering the hope for the people of over six panchayats and others to access markets and block headquarters and they spend from their pockets for its maintenance, especially when water level reduces," Saharsa-based social activist Amit Anand said and appreciated the local MP for raising the issue in Parliament. On January 11, RJD MLA from Mahishi Assembly constituency (Saharsa) Gautam Krishna inaugurated a one-km-long bamboo bridge locally known as Chachri Pool at Kedali Ghat over Kosi. "We will continue to fight for a permanent bridge and raise the issue in Assembly and even protest on roads," the first-time RJD MLA said, alleging the state government was showing apathy towards people's sufferings. Demand for a permanent bridge has been raised for years, but even as the annual flood season wreaks havoc, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. "People have been demanding a permanent bridge for years but the government has so far not paid any heed," Amit Anand said and alleged, "This is why the region has been left behind in development since Independence. Despite evident risks, villagers cross the precarious structure on foot, motorcycles and even auto rickshaws." He reminded of the many accidents. "During floods, these bridges pose excessive threats and people take to boats to reach markets or hospitals and sometimes the boats capsize, leaving many people dead." Terming it a problem for North Bihar, Anand said, "Dozens of bamboo bridges over Kosi in Seemanchal and Mithilanchal belie the development claims made by the governments." A bamboo bridge over Berdah stream at Koriyapatti under Devipur panchayat in Raghopur block of Supaul district is another example of government's apathy. Here too, villagers have built it at their own cost. "When administration and our elected representatives failed, we tried our best to improve our lives with limited resources and we can say that the bamboo bridge has saved many ailing people," a local Manoj Kumar Mehta said, adding, "Our bamboo bridge reduces the distance by 6-km to access the main road." Similarly, locals at Nandniya village under Baisa block in Purnea district alleged, "When our demand for an RCC (Reinforced Concrete Cement) bridge remained unheard, we constructed a 100-metre bamboo bridge for Rs.50,000 to connect with Nandaniya village under Baisa block in Purnea." AIMIM MLA Akhatarul Iman, when contacted, said, "The tender of this proposed RCC bridge is in process and within a month it is likely to be completed paving the way for the permanent bridge here." Such bamboo bridges serve the people in their day to day work in Purnea, Katihar, Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul, Kishanganj, Madhubani, etc. strewn across 37 assembly segments and 7 Lok Sabha constituencies....