Darjeeling Municipality asks five hotels to remove constructions on top of public drains

EOI, DARJEELING, JUNE 27, 2024 : Cracking the whip on citizens blocking public drains in the town areas, the Darjeeling Municipality on Thursday issued notice of action to five hotels. The five hotels are located inward number 10 on theCooch Behar Road and have been found to have constructed slabs on top of the drains, resulting in blockage and overflow of waste waters on the road.

MIC of the Conservancy Department of Darjeeling Municipality Nitesh Gurung said the defaulting hotels had been issued notice and were required to clear the drains within seven days; failing which the municipality would take its own measures, including hefty fine as per laws laid down in the WestBengal Municipality Act of1993.

"The concerned hotels have encroached on the public drains. This is obstructing the flow of waste water. As a result, the waste water is overflowing onto the road leading to unhygienic sanitation conditions and damage to the road," said the municipality councillor. 

Gurung said the defaulting hotels would have to remove the illegal structures within seven days from the issue of notice or face penalty." 

Action will be taken as per section 257 and sub-section 4 of the Municipality Act. The hotels have seven days to adhere to the notice failing which the municipality willtake its own action," he said. 

It is a common sight to see structures which include small restaurants and vending shops on top of drains across the town areas. Waste and garbage including plastics and pet bottles are disposed of in the drains resulting in blockage of flow of water and stinky conditions, which gets amplified especially during the monsoon season.

"We want to send a message to the citizens of all the 32 wards of the Darjeeling Municipality that henceforth immediate actions will be taken against those who have constructed structures on top of the public drains,"said Gurung. 

 "Our engineering department is coming up with plans to tackle this menace. Since it is their jurisdiction the engineering department will take appropriate actions," said Gurung.
Gurung urged citizens to send video footage of people throwing waste and garbage on the streets and construction of structures on top of drains so that the municipality could take actions. 

"Our councillors are on the alert and are reporting people and hotels found guilty. But we also appeal to the citizens to be conscious and report defaulters via video footage. We have taken actions against people who have been reported," he said.