CPRM demands halt over garbage dumping at Teesta
MUKESH SHARMA
Kalimpong, September
06:
Garbage dumping has
been one of the prolonged issues of Kalimpong after water shortage. In 2009 an
imperative meeting was conducted discussing the dumping of the town’s garbage
at River Teesta. Approximately around 35 metric tonnes of garbage is still
being dumped in the river. Realizing the same, the CPRM National Highway Zonal
Committee has forwarded a written complaint to the West Bengal Pollution
Control Board.
Since 3 years the dumping
process has been continuing at the river which is regarded one of the holy
places of the Hindus and is also one of the important tourism spots of the
hills. The CPRM earlier in the month of April had demanded the Municipality to
stop the same and had cautioned to approach the court if it still continued.
The River Teesta houses few of the rare species of fishes of the Asian
continent. Hence, the dumping of garbage has adverse effects on these species
along with this it also hampers the animal life of Mahananda forest, the
households residing alongside the Teesta and the labourers who earn their bread
and butter from the river.
The CPRM Highway Zone
Committee President, Santosh Pradhan speaking on the same said that despite of
the appeal by the Committee no such preventive actions have been initiated by
the concerned departments. Further, if there is no justice delivered by the
Board, the Committee shall approach the Centre Pollution Board on this matter,
he notified. In one hand the Centre is investing huge amount of funds in
cleaning the river and conserving the Mahananda forest, in the other, there is
no stop to the garbage dumping, he said.
Likewise, Pradhan also
questioned that why the religious and environment conscious organizations are
staying put over this grave issue. Mentioning about the Clean Municipality
award which has been recently conferred to Kalimpong Municipality, the
President questioned that despite of the Municipality’s drawbacks, how come it
deserved the award.
The Kalimpong Municipality
President, LB Pariyar when asked about the issue said that the Municipality is
striving hard to tackle the issue. The areas have been located and discussions
regarding the same are going on. If the Committee instead of complaining could
deliver the Municipality few suggestions then it would be of great help, he
added. Pariyar further mentioned that the households alongside the Teesta are
least concerned about the issue and they themselves are dumping their garbage
in the river. Even the public can approach the Municipality with their
suggestions, he added.
Tags: LOCAL
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