State informs Centre about NH10 damage

SNS, Kalimpong, 16 October 2016: The state authorities have confirmed that it has ta ken up the issue of the vulnerable condition of the National Highway 10 and its regular sinkages and frequent damage before the concerned central government authorities.

Meanwhile, state sources have confirmed the development as the CM visited Kalimpong in last week of September and had asked , about the survey ground report from the Public Works Department.

Sources said that the state has taken up the matter of the erosion along the NH-10 somewhat owing to the river Teesta under the two hydro projects which has allegedly a minimum covered protection wall.

PWD executive engineer NH Division Mr A K Maity when asked about the survey report informed that the department was asked about the report on damages of road done by the two Hydel Project of NHPC.

Mr Maity added that the the base of the road is in continuous erosion due to the rise and fall of the water. "There is no base wall in the project area which is leading the river to directly collide with the NH 10 base. NH 10 needs a permanent solution, we have approached the hydel projects many times but they have always turned a deaf ear"

He further added: "After chief minister Mamata Banerjee's visit, we were asked for the report on the damages made mainly in the very project after which we prepared a survey report and forwarded the same." Meanwhile, when asked about the recent sinkage of the Kalijhora and Bhuichaley road, he said: "In both cases, the Teesta River is directly hitting the base as the lack of a protection wail. The wall cutting in Kalij hora will be done from this evening so that two-way traffic gets restored at the earliest,"

One of the tourists, Mr Debasish Rana who had made a trip to Delo at Kalimpong from Chakdah said: "The Kalimpong town is beautiful but the NH 10 road which connects Kalimpong is horrifying.

I was terrified upon looking into the condition of the road and was greatly concerned for my family."

It is to be noted here that the demand for an alternative route of NH 10 is very high from both Kalimpong and Sikkim, which is the lifeline for the both places.(Mukesh Sharma)(Photos: Samten Kabo, Kiran Golay)