These children swim to school

For years residents of Ponnambalam have been seeking a bridge across a channel

Water way: Residents of Ponnambalam have to wade through water to reach nearest village to take a bus.

Almost every year, residents of Ponnambalam village in Arcot Taluk have to wade through a water channel (’maduvu’) for three months to reach their neighbouring village that has bus connectivity. As the water level rises in the channel following rains, it is a struggle for the 400-odd families, especially studentsm as they have to cross the channel to reach their school and college.

For more than three decades, residents of the village, one of the biggest in the Arur panchayat, have been pleading for a surface bridge across the channel, but in vain.

“As far as I am aware, we have been submitting petitions seeking a surface bridge to several officials for nearly 35 years. We have submitted petitions to the Collector, Member of Legislative Assembly and even Ministers but no step has been taken to help us,” said Velayudham, a villager.

Long detour

There is water at least up to the waist for three to four months in a year, putting especially students and women in misery, he said. “If we have to reach Kannigapuram, one of the main localities here, we will have to take a detour for five to six kilometres.” Villagers said last year a man from a neighbouring village was washed away as he tried to cross the channel. After the recent rains, the water level rose up to the neck.

Many students study in schools in Mambakkam near Arcot and there are students studying in colleges at Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai. “At least 200 persons have to go out of the village to school, college and work every day. We walk through the channel when the water level decreases. Now, there is water up to my waist. Many of us face difficulty in reaching the college on time during examinations,” said a student.

Gowri, another resident, said that she has to walk two km through the channel to reach Kannigapuram or take the six-km-long detour via Arur. “The nearest medical facilities are located in Mambakkam or Cheyyar. We just cannot reach the hospitals quickly in case of an emergency. Think about the difficulties faced by pregnant women and the elderly,” she said. Jayapradha said many school-going children took leave because of the water in the ‘maduvu’.