Protest rally against ‘stop work’ notice on construction of Balawas Bridge

EOI, Darjeeling, November 28, 2024 : A protest rally was organized in Darjeeling town on Thursday by the Som Singtam Chungthung Liza Hill Coordination Committee (SSCLHCC) in response to the district administration's order to stop the repair work of the Balawas bridge. Earlier this year, Hamro Party President Ajoy Edwards had initiated the construction of the bridge with support from local residents.

The two bridges at Balawas, about 11 km from Darjeeling, were formally inaugurated on August 18. However, the concrete bridge was severely damaged due to heavy rainfall on October 3, prompting the repair work to begin once the weather cleared.

SSCLHCC coordinator Adarsh Tamang clarified, "The protest rally is being organized by the local residents, not under any political banner. While some may say Edwards constructed the bridge, it’s important to remember that the villagers also contributed by providing manual labor and materials."

The concrete bridge was built by local villagers, with Edwards making substantial financial contributions. Along with the new concrete bridge, the repair of a 30-foot-long British-era hanging bridge was completed earlier this year. The concrete bridge facilitates daily commutes, while the hanging bridge is aimed at attracting tourists.

Tamang further added, "Now, the GTA PRO is stating that the construction of bridges cannot be done without administration approval. For years, we've been asking the administration to build the bridge, but they haven’t acted, nor are they allowing us to proceed with it."

Recently, GTA PRO S.P. Sharma issued a statement asserting that bridges and roads cannot be constructed by private parties without the necessary permission and a survey by the administration. As a result, the repair work on the concrete bridge has been halted.

On Thursday, the committee submitted a memorandum to the district administration requesting permission to resume the repair work on the concrete bridge.