Locals reopen Mink lake pathway was blocked by a tea company in January 2018

SNS, SILIGURI, 12 APRIL 21: The decades-old thoroughfare leading to the Sumendhu Lake in the tourist town of Mirik in Darjeeling has now reopened for public at the initiative of some local people.

A tea company, which said it owned the plot of land that had the pathway, had blocked it in January 2018, a move that triggered protests from local people.

Various organisations in the town had also submitted a memorandum to the Sub-divisional Officer, demanding that the road be reopened for public.

The Goodricke tea company, which owns the Thurbo tea plantation in Mirik, has opened a 'tea lounge' at the controversial site, one of the two main routes leading to the popular lakeside park.

The Krishnanagar Merchants' Association, with help from Ward Councillor Banita Rai and other local residents of Ward-5 in the Mink Municipality, took initiatives to reopen the pathway last Saturday, it is learnt.

According to Mrs Rai, small businesses in and around the pathway had been suffering huge losses due to the tea company's move.

"There used to be a motor stand right at the start of the pathway, and local people had been doing brisk business there and earning a living by serving tourists. Students too had to take a detour to go to their schools at the Mirik Bazaar side," she said.

"I thank all the organizations and local people, including the president of the Krishnanagar Club Arbind Subba, for taking the initiative to reopen the thoroughfare. We also hope that such a situation will not arise in the future," Mrs Rai added.

According to the president of the Krishnan agar Club, Mr Subba, the pathway below Mirik Higher Secondary School had been thrown open to the common public and tourists when the lake was formed in 1979.

"A bridge was also constructed there, which suggests that the road had been built for public use by the administration and that it was always a part of the lake area ever since," Mr Subba said.

Mr Subba further said that a public toilet that is much needed for tourists and anyone visiting the lake area, however, still falls in the compound that has been fenced by the tea company.

"Visitors here presently need to walk a long distance towards Pratap Gaon to use a public toilet there. Also, the second gate of the Mirik Higher Secondary School also falls in the company's compound. In case of an emergency or any natural calamity like earthquake, evacuation of the around 800 students there could be tough, given the single gate that the school is now using after the company blocked the area," he said.