Sunday, 28 November 2021 | PNS | Bageshwar
The issue crops up before every elections and then conveniently forgotten by the political parties
The residents of Bageshwar town which has a population of more than 50,000 have been waiting for a sewerage facility for more than 15 years.
In every election after the creation of a separate state of Uttarakhand, the sewerage is one of the most significant issues and leaders of every party promise the voters that once elected they would ensure that the facility is available. However, the matter is sent to cold storage once the elections are over. The people of the town situated on the banks of Saryu and Gomti have been demanding the sewer facility for years.
In absence of a sewerage plan, people of the town have to build sewer pits at their homes due to which not only the groundwater is getting polluted but the water of rivers is also getting contaminated. People open sewer pits in the rainy season and the sewage sludge flows into the city’s drains. Votes have been sought on the issue of sewer line construction since the 2007 assembly elections. Construction of the Sewer lines is a major issue in every election. In the year 2017, the then Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had announced a sewerage scheme for Bageshwar. Despite this, the sewerage plan did not come off the ground. Recently the district administration has allotted land to the municipality for the sewerage system but more land is required for the sewerage system. The Peyjal Nigam, the agency selected for the purpose, has sent a proposal of Rs 1.19 crore to the government to buy additional land for the project. It is estimated that a sum of Rs 6.5 crore will be required for the sewerage scheme.
When contacted the Executive Engineer of Peyal Nigam, CPS Gangwar said, “Rs 1.19 crore is needed to buy land. A 62 km long sewer line is to be laid in the city. The final proposal will be prepared after getting the money for the land”. The local MLA of Bageshwar Chandan Ram Das told The Pioneer that funds will be released soon to buy land for the sewerage scheme. He added that Rs 6.5 Crore are needed for the construction of a sewerage scheme which would be released after the purchase of land.
