PATHANAMTHITTA: The woes of Kokkathode, a remote village in the forests, about 29 kilometres from Konni in Pathanamthitta district, are to continue till it is connected with the `mainland' of Konni.

The village residents are eagerly awaiting for the completion of a bridge across the river Achencoil that separates Kokkathode from the mainland of Konni at Vayakkaramoozhi.

The bridge project, estimated at Rs.300 lakh, was launched with financial assistance from the NABARD in February 2006. Though the work was supposed to be completed in an year, it has been progressing at a snail's pace owing to various technical reasons.

If the authorities fail to complete it before the onset of monsoon, the project would be delayed further, leaving the hapless villagers in the lurch.

During the summer months when there is little water flow, vehicles used to ply across the river. The village residents mainly depend on a country boat ferry at Vayakkaramoozhi, besides a temporary causeway in the forests at Kummannur.

The Forest department had constructed the causeway following the collapse of a culvert in the forests a few months ago. Kokkathode houses as many as 1,500 families, including about 50 tribal families at Kattathippara and Kottampara.

Electricity reached this village only 10 months ago. Interestingly, Kokkathode had got mini `movie houses' that were being operated on solar energy before electricity reached there in 2006. In harsh summer months, many parts of this village face severe drought and drinking water scarcity, leaving the district administration in a tight spot. Kokkathode is cut off from the `mainland' during the floods, especially in the monsoon. In the floods of 1999, the district administration had to airlift food packets and provisions to Kokkathode when the village was cut off.

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