Amrita Setu:
Connecting Alappad with Vallikkavu
28 August 2005 — Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District,
Kerala
Artist's rendition of the
bridge that will connect Alappad and Vallikkavu |
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Anyone who has ever climbed up to the roof of the
16-storey ashram flats knows how breathtaking the view
is. From that height, two things become clear: the
ashram possesses the only multi-storeyed buildings
as far as the eye can see, and the ashram is almost
completely surrounded by water.
When the tsunami hit on December 26th, everyone from
the surrounding villages rushed to Amritapuri, knowing
it to be the only true place of refuge. Amma then directed
everyone to be transported across the backwaters via
ashram boats.
On March 29th when the government issued a
warning of a possible second tsunami, the scene
repeated itself (news).
Because of the limited number of boats available
and the fact that so many people depended on
the Ashram to get them across, it took more than
three hours to transport everyone to the mainland.
Fortunately, nothing happened, but Amma took
note of the long time it took to evacuate and
said that a more efficient way to transport people
to the mainland must be established. |
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In the end Amma decided that a footbridge had to be
built, with the goal of being able to evacuate all
of Alappad Panchayat within 30 minutes.
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Swami Amritaswarupananda laid the foundation
stones for the new bridge. Extending from the
Ashram jetty to the mainland, the bridge will
be 100 meters long, five meters wide and seven
meters high.
Currently, Alappad is connected with the mainland
via only one bridge, which is two kilometers
from the southern tip of the penninsula. The
government has started constructing another bridge
at the northern end of Alappad. Alappad is 17.5
kilometers in length. The ashram is located in
the middle. |
—Tulasi
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