Keep Darjeeling clean and green, environmental body tells municipality

EOI, DARJEELING, DEC 1, 2023 :  The Lakshya Samuha, a non government and non political organization working in the social field on Friday warned it would start an agitation if the Darjeeling municipality failed to curb the menace of encroachment, construction of high rise buildings and littering of garbage waste. 

The Lakshya Samuha (LS) submitted a six point charter of demands relating to sanitation and hygiene to the the civic body. 

After the meeting with Dipen Thakuri, the Darjeeling municipality chairman, Rajesh Gurung, senior member of the organization said the civic body had given assurance to work on the six point demand. 

"The municipality chairman heard us and has given us assurance to implement and take action on the issues we have raised. We hope the municipality keeps it word, otherwise we will be forced to start an agitation," said Gurung. 

The LS has prioritized the Chowrasta area to be kept vendor and busking free to ensure elderly people are able to relax and recreate in peace. "Chowrasta should be open and free, without vendors littering waste and crowding and people busking to collect donation for medical purpose. There are other places in the town to do such activities. Only after finding the genuinity, the municipality should demarcate an area for collection of funds by way of busking," said Gurung. 

Of late several vendors selling "puchka", "makai", tea and kid items among others have mushroomed in Chowrasta. With social network easily available, people have also started busking across vantage points of the town area to collect donations for medical emergency. 

Matters get compounded when political programmes are also organized in Chowrasta, the most popular promenade of Darjeeling town. 

The concern of growing high rise buildings in the fragile town have also been highlighted by the LS in its charter of demands. 

"Darjeeling lies in the dangerous seismic 4 zone. Yet high rise and massive constructions is on the rampant. We are vulnerable to earthquake. The municipality should be proactive to stop this menace. The civic body can cut off amenities to the defaulters if they dont heed warnings," said Gurung. 

In the hilly areas, according to the municipal act there is provision to construct buildings and structures at a minimum height of 11.5 meters. However, the town is inundated with concrete buildings flaunting the municipality rules. 

The organization has also raised the issue of encroachment of municipality roads and walk ways by traders and has asked the municipality to take stringent action. 

"The shopkeepers keep their wares outside their shops. Other small vendors block the walking space and pavement for commuting purpose. Traffic gets congested. This causes inconvenience to the public. Several vendors erect temporary stalls on top the the drains which gets blocked by the waste thrown by them," said Gurung. 

Other issues raised are speedy implementation of the Amrit Jal Pariyojana (drinking water scheme) and construction of the electronic crematorium which is long pending. "We have been assured that the drinking water project and electronic crematorium will be implemented soon. Work is on progress even though it has taken several years. 

The water distribution pipes have been damaged and in some cases stolen. As citizens we have the right to know the status of the projects," said Gurung. 

The LS appealed to the citizens, political parties and the civic body to be conscious about proper sanitation and hygiene. 

"The public to an extent are also to blame as they keep breaking rules. The municipality is indifferent and the political parties are worried about votes. Time has now come to rise above everything to ensure Darjeeling town is clean and green," said Gurung. 

The municipality chairman said the civic body was aware of the problems plaguing the town and was working to eradicate the issue but it would take time and support of the citizens.