The service of mini-barge provided by the State government to Hadonahalli village, where 12 persons had died in a coracle tragedy recently, will commence on April 29.
Twelve people from the village had died when a coracle overturned in the Tungabhadra during the immersion of Ganesh idol on September 7. It is said that huge pits were formed on the riverbed owing to indiscriminate extraction of sand undertaken during summer, resulting in the mishap. The residents of the village had then urged the State government to construct a bridge and commence a barge service here to cross the river.
Jagadeesh D.C., president, Milk Producers’ Cooperative Society, Hadonahalli, told The Hindu that the residents of the village regularly commute to Anaveri, the main commercial centre of the region, located at the distance of 1.5 km on the other side of the river, by coracle. By road, the distance between the two places is 30 km as there is no bridge to cross the river. The residents of Hadonahalli even carry their two-wheelers on coracles.
Following the mishap, the residents had stopped using coracles. The Department of Ports and Inland Water Transport has now sanctioned a mini-barge, the cost of which is said to be around ₹37 lakh, for Hadonahalli village to cross the river. Mr. Jagadeesh said that as commuting on mini-barge is safe, it has come as a solace for the grief-stricken village. The mini-barge has the capacity to carry 30 passengers and six bikes. He said that wearing life-jackets would be made compulsory in the mini-barge.
Umesh H.E., president, Hadonahalli Gram Panchayat, said two youth from the village were being trained by the department on operating the mini-barge. Kagodu Thimmappa, Minister for Revenue, will flag-off the service at a programme that will be held in the village on April 29. At present, two buses belonging to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ply to Hadonahalli village from Shivamogga city daily.
