Soon, footbridge across rivulet in Mirzapur village

MOHALI:The parents of around 50 students of Government Middle School at Mirzapur village here can heave a sigh of relief as Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vijay Inder Singla has assured of construction of a footbridge across a seasonal rivulet here.

Cause for concern: Students of Govt Middle School, Mirzapur, wait for water to recede. File photo

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 16

The parents of around 50 students of Government Middle School at Mirzapur village here can heave a sigh of relief as Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vijay Inder Singla has assured of construction of a footbridge across a seasonal rivulet here. Currently, students risk their lives to cross the rivulet that comes on their way to the school.

The minister gave assurance in the state Assembly session recently. The matter was taken up by the area MLA Kanwar Sandhu, who asked the state government about their initiative in this regard.

In his reply, Singla said he received the report on the matter and assured the assembly that soon, a footbridge would be constructed on the rivulet so that the students and their parents did not face any inconvenience in reaching the school.

It is to be noted that the problem of the school students and their parents was highlighted in these columns on February 7.

According to the claims of the residents, the authorities concerned were not paying heed to their problems despite repeated complaints.

“Many a times, school staff and children get stuck on the other side of the rivulet during the rainy season and use tractor-trolleys to cross it,” said Gurcharan Singh, former sarpanch of the village.

The minister assured that the footbridge would be constructed very soon.

It is to be noted that Mirzapur, which is hardly 20 km away from Chandigarh, is located in Mohali district on Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. The village has a population of around 500.