Delo sanitation woes persist

NISHA CHETTRI, SNS, KALIMPONG, 9 OCTOBER 2018: The dark monsoon clouds have given way to bright blue skies, while a whiff of Pujas (Dashain in the Hills) now hangs in the air. It is festival time for all, both in the Hills and the plains, and Hill towns, including Kalimpong, are always looking to draw more tourists during such festive seasons.

However, as tourists return to Kalimpong in droves, especially after last year's political turmoil amid the shutdown, they rue 'bad' sanitation facilities at all tourist spots in and around town, including Delo. It may be recalled here that tourists had complained about such conditions a year ago, after they started trickling in the Hills after the agitation.

Delo is situated at a height of l,704 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest point in Kalimpong. It is also considered the most attractive place for tourists in the district, while paragliding has added to the be  and importance of the place of the Delo hill.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself has time and again given importance to tourism in the Hills, while Tourism Minister Gautam Deb too had laid stress on developing tourism in Darjeeling Hills while he was in Kalimpong a few days ago.

Asked by reporters to comment on the lack of toilets at tourist spots, Mr Deb said: 'This is a matter of the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration), and have had a word with the GTA Chairman Binoy Tamang two-three times. I will visit Darjeeling Hills again to discuss such issues and other issues regarding tourism. On a visit to Delo, this reporter found the toilet in bad shape, while one Sunil Rumtel from 16th Mile, who himself is physically challenged, had been cleaning the toilet, which was without water. He has now started charging visitors for using the toilet.

"The administration has done nothing till today and I still carry water for cleaning the toilet here from a distance of 4 km every day," said Mr Rumtel.

"The condition of this toilet was so bad that tourists could not even enter it earlier. After I got to know about this, I bought water and cleaned it. I still buy water and transport it from 16th Mile in a car for the toilet. I charge Rs 5 from a person who uses the facility,' he added.

Ashish Sen, a tourist visiting Delo, said toilets are a basic necessity. "Tourists would definitely want better facilities at such spots," he said.

While the problem had reached the administration's table four months ago, the GTA's tourism chairman, Sonam Yakha, who had earlier assured to solve the water problem in June this year, clarified that the GTA administration was shuffled recently and that the project which is on the table has to be reminded once again."

"The departmental heads of the GTA have been changed, and the project has been brought to the notice of the principal secretary and it will be followed up soon. The changing rooms for tourists for paragliding and rafting will also be arranged for in the days to come," Mr Yakha said.