BALLARI: People of Kampli and Gangavathi taluks in North Karnataka have urged the government to increase the height of the bridge connecting the two villages to avoid being damaged, due to the release of water from Tungabhadra reservoir in Hospet. Villagers say the 57-year-old bridge gets submerged if the Tungabhadra Board releases more than 1 lakh cusecs of water a day.The bridge, measuring 1,934ft long, 22ft wide and 38ft tall, connects Kampli of Ballari district and Gangavathi of Koppal district. The bridge, with 51 pillars, has been serving the people since 1961.The reservoir is now full, and if the water level rises by 6ft it would necessitate opening of all 32 crest gates. The board has decided to release water from Friday fand there are chances of the bridge getting submerged, and water flowing into the Fort area and damaging crops.Despite efforts by the PWD department to maintain it, the unabated plying of heavy vehicles transporting banana, paddy and rice is damaging the bridge.The state government plans to build a new bridge at a height of 42ft (5ft higher than the present one), 100m away. According to an engineer, the new bridge has to be built at a new place or at the same place after razing the old one. “Heavy vehicles continue to ply, the shape of the bridge notwithstanding. We have requested local MLAs and senior government officers to allot special funds to build a new bridge,” the engineer added.

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