No retaining wall along Bindal haunts residents

DEHRADUN: The absence of retaining wall along the Bindal river continues to haunt residents who have been living on the river bank for years. The situation turns worse for slum dwellers in Vijay Colony (Ward No. 7) during the rainy season that puts their lives in a jeopardy.

A drain sans safety wall in Vijay Colony on Monday;

Himanshu K Lall

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 14

The absence of retaining wall along the Bindal river continues to haunt residents who have been living on the river bank for years. The situation turns worse for slum dwellers in Vijay Colony (Ward No. 7) during the rainy season that puts their lives in a jeopardy.

People have been demanding the construction of the retaining wall as it, according to them, is the need of the hour. Also most of the stretch of drains don’t have safety walls.

Besides, the large-scale encroachment along the river is among the issues that concern the ward residents. Dumping of garbage, domestic waste, effluent plastic, etc found in the Bindal adds to their woes. “Heaps of garbage can be easily seen in the Bindal. Garbage is dumped here frequently that has almost become a part of the river embankment. The swelling river amid rainfall sends shivers down the spine,” say residents.

Besides, the shortage of potable water is always witnessed in some colonies, including Vijay Colony, Shakti Colony, Indira Colony and some parts of Pathriyapeer. The problem exacerbates during the summer season as people have to go to nearby colonies to fetch water. According to residents, they have apprised the officials concerned of the problem, but nothing concrete has been done to deal with it.

What they say...

A proposal was submitted to the Dehradun Municipal Corporation for sanctioning funds for the embankment along the Bindal river. A plan is in the pipeline to overcome the shortage of water supply in different colonies of the ward.

Nikhil Kumar, councilor

Officials of the Municipal Corporation should deploy more sanitation workers to improve the door-to-door garbage collection system. The corporation should be lauded for the proper upkeep of roads in the ward.

Barkat Devi

The shortage of potable water has become a perennial problem in different colonies of the ward. The issue of retaining wall should be taken up on a priority. It has been seen that governments in the country wake up generally after mishaps.

Chandra Mohan Joshi

Officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation should lay new potable water pipelines to overcome the shortage of water. Heaps of garbage can be seen in the Bindal. The mechanism to make the ward clean should be improved.

Kulveer Singh Chowdhury

The DMC should sanction funds to construct the retaining wall along the Bindal river. Every process takes some time so the Municipal Corporation should at least begin it. The apathy of the civic body is beyond understanding.

Mohit