Coracle owners worried lot at Hampi

BY SHIVAKUMAR G MALAGI
HAMPI

We would have been left jobless if the bridge was completed ‘ and opened to trafficCoracle operators, who have for generations ferried people across the river Tungabhadra from Hampi to Anegundi are hoping the hanging bridge that collapsed here recently, will never be built as it could snatch away their only source of livelihood.
Nine families have been in the coracle trade at Anegundi for decades. Even the present generation has taken to the family trade of running the country boats, which are often used by the authorities to save people who may have fallen into the river.
The coracles which charge Rs 5 a passenger, are in demand as it takes less than 10 minutes to cross the river by boat while it would take over 45 minutes to reach Anegundi from Hampi by road. Even two-wheelers prefer to pay the Rs 10 they are charged to cross the river than go by road which would take them longer. Foreign tourists enjoy taking the ferry boat rides to islands like Virupapuragadde and Nava Vrundavana on the river.
“We have been ferrying people from Hampi to Anegundi for generations. We would have been left jobless if the bridge was completed and opened to traffic. We were worried about our livelihood and cursed the bridge everyday. Now, at last, Godess Ganga has heard our prayers and come to our rescue.” says coracle operator Honnurappa.
Members of the Harigolu Haisuvara Ambigara Sangha, the coracle operators’ union in Anegundi want the government to give up construction of the bridge.
“We mourn the labourers who died building it, but the bridge would have been bad both for us and the Hampi monuments. The government should introduce coracle rides for tourists coming to Hampi and Anegundi, besides appointing us as lifeguards on the river. This will help conserve these two ancient sites,” say the sang ha members.
The 226 meter long bridge was being built at a cost of Rs 11.48 crore, when a section of it collapsed recently, killing the labourers and putting its future in question.
The government had received Unesco permission to construct the bridge after much persuasion as the UN agency was concerned that it could mar the appeal of ancient Hampi.
Even as recently as two months ago, a Unesco representative and director of South-East Asian Nations in New Delhi, Minja Yang had warned state government about the deteriorating condition of the bridge.
He had suggested the government build only a footbridge downstream instead of the permanent concrete structure it was planning.