President Kalam opens Amrita Sethu bridge

December 21, 2006

KOLLAM: The Amrita Sethu suspension footbridge across

the Travancore State (TS) Canal connecting Alapad

grama panchayat to the mainland was inaugurated by

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday. The bridge,

constructed by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, was

opened in the presence of the Mata.

Besides a means of getting over to the mainland, the

bridge can become an escape route for those at Alapad

in case the sea turns rough. The December 26, 2004

tsunami had devastated Alapad and 132 persons had lost

their lives. The death toll would have been much less

had there been a centrally located bridge connecting

Alapad to the mainland. After unveiling the plaque,

the President walked up the red carpet spread on the

steps of the bridge to view the landscape from top. He

then arrived at the Math to address a gathering. In

addition to Mata Amritanandamayi, Food and Civil

Supplies Minister C. Divakaran and Fisheries Minister

S. Sarma were present on the dais. Math vice-chairman

Swamy Amritaswarupananda gave the welcome address.

In her benedictory address, Mata Amritanandamayi

recalled the day on which the tsunami hit Alapad and

other parts of the world, and said she only wished

that such a tragedy was never repeated. She stressed

the need to preserve and protect nature. When we start

harassing nature, nature reacts by harassing us.

Nature should be exploited only for meeting our needs.

It should never be exploited in excess.

In his address, the President said he was happy to

note that the bridge would greatly benefit the people

of Alappad panchayat. For any medical emergency a

bridge like this could be a life-saving connectivity.

If there is need for large-scale evacuation due to a

natural calamity, the bridge will enable people to

move to safer places in no time.

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