`Filthy' spot turns into park in hills

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 14 May 2019, Darjeeling: The 180x30ft septic tank built by the British to collect night soil was one of the filthiest spots here 

The transformation of the "filthy" space -- situated at Pragati Gram in ward 18 of Darjeeling municipality -- into a park in a span of few months is refreshing 

Ejazz Ali, a music composer and a resident of the area, summed up the transformation. "My father used to call it tankgeuha dhabbu (filthy tank). I would call it a dhabbu ( as collection of night soil was stopped many decades ago). But today, my son tells me `let's go to the park'," said Ali 

The beautification of the tank started by the municipality is not yet fully complete. "There is a plan to play music in the evening," said Gautam Sarki, the ward councillor and the brain behind the project 

Benches have been set up on the top of the tank and the entire area is covered with tiles. 

"The Darjeeling municipality spent around Rs 6 lakh on the project which is yet to be launched because of the model code of conduct," said Sarki

"When we were small, we used to play on the top of the tank. I would always think if we could beautify it," said the 37-year-old councillor 

Around 30-40 years ago, the authorities had decided to construct a covered drain through The septic tank before (top) and after the renovation which the night soil would flow into a nearby stream bypassing the septic tank. A staircase was also built over the drain so that people could use it as a walkway 

After the drain's construction, the tank had been lying unused 

"During the British days, the population was less in the town. Now, there are around 300 houses around the tank. People started filling the unused septic tank with mud when they constructed houses," said Sarki 

The residents remember that they would "feel a bit low" when people of other places wondered how they were staying near the septic tank. "But now, we have a mini MG Marg in our area," said Suren Barma, a resident 

MG Marg is the popular walkway in Gangtok and has turned into the rendezvous of tourists and the locals alike. When the MG Marg was built, many residents of Darjeeling used to say Sikkim was trying to replicate Darjeeling's famous Chowrasta.