DHEMAJI, Jan 2 - The applause by thousands of people over opening of Bogibeel bridge linking people living on the north bank and the south banks of Brahmaputra in eastern Assam cannot hide the agonies of Kareng Chapori villagers, who have now become jobless after completion of the rail-cum-road bridge.
More than 33 families, who were surviving since the last 15 years on their petty businesses like ghumtis, kiosks, eateries and tea stalls at the Kareng ferry ghat on the north bank of Brahmaputra, have lost their livelihood after the historic day.
The shopkeepers have realised that the ambitious Bogibeel bridge project has adversely hit their livelihood, but the Central and State governments are not considering their problems sympathetically.
As per information, around 20 private and one government ferry running from Kareng ghat to Bogibeel ghat in Dibrugarh daily have lost their business while operators of more than 100 jeeps, trekkers, mini buses and tempos plying on the route have become jobless after the bridge opened.
�The Bogibeel bridge has shattered our business, our only way of earning a living. We have appraised our sufferings to the State government in the form of memorandums, but no initiative for payment of compensation and grant-in-aid have been taken so far. We have no idea what to do next to run our families,� rued Babai Kutum, general secretary of Kareng Ferry-Ghat Shop Keepers� Association.
Kutum informed that his association had submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding prompt compensation for the Bogibeel bridge project-affected families from the government. They further have sought a �rehabilitation package� for eking out an alternative livelihood to maintain their families in the days to come.
On the other hand, Brahmaputra Ferry Service Association had also submitted a separate memorandum to the Chief Minister earlier, but no steps have been initiated so far from the State government�s end to ease their sufferings.
�We are not against any development project in our area, but commencement of the Bogibeel bridge has adversely affected our livelihood. Considering the adverse affect of the project that has shattered our business activities, we have no other option left but to seek financial aid in the form of compensation from the government�, the victims said.
