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Bridge to let plateau cattle get over track
2003-06-10
China Daily
Sumdar, an ethnic Tibetan herder, is very proud that his proposal to build a bridge on the world's highest railway has been adopted.
The herder said that he made the proposal to facilitate grazing for his cattle on a pasture near the Qinghai-Tibet railway between Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, and Gormo in Northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Two years ago, when Sumdar and his fellow villagers learned that the railway would cross through their Tanggulashan township home, they were overjoyed because "the days of travelling on foot or horseback would soon be over," Sumdar recalled.
However, while observing workers near a construction site one day last October and imagining making a pilgrimage to Lhasa by train, the herdsman said that he suddenly realized that the railway would block the access of herds to grazing lands.
Sumdar said he became worried at the prospect but suddenly realized that a bridge would resolve the problem.
As a village official, Sumdar invited construction officials and workers to the village in February to celebrate Spring Festival together.
During their stay, Sumdar spoke with Ding Shouquan, the official in charge of construction of the section near his home. Sumdar proposed that a bridge be built to ensure access to grazing lands for the cattle.
Sun Yongfu, vice-minister of railways, upon hearing the proposal, ordered a feasibility study and solicited other opinions on the construction work from Sumdar and his fellow villagers.
Sun also stressed that the design and construction should not affect the lives and work of the residents, since the aim was to benefit them.
When construction of the 32-meter bridge began on May 26, Sumdar and his fellow villagers showed their gratitude by going to the construction site with barley wine and a hada white silk scarf, which is regarded as a token of respect by Tibetans.
Sumdar said he and his fellow villagers should be grateful for many other things, in addition to the change in the railway design.
The construction team decided to employ as many local young people as possible in the construction work.
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