LOHAGARH LIFELINE CULVERT ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE CREATING PANIC

By R. Subrata (TNI Siliguri) ~ Edited By Pradiptamay Saha (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Siliguri, 6th June, 2015: A small culvert which tries to connect with the villages of GTA border villages of Mirik Block is hanging dangerously over a jhora called Manjha. The residents of the villages in the Mirik block till date have repeatedly requested the GTA authorities to reconstruct the culvert, which have till date fallen in deaf ears. Earlier another bridge of the area has collapsed 3 years back that was connecting Naxalbari with the villages. Since then this culvert had become the lifeline of the villagers. However, since its dilapidated condition had created anxiety among the residents that in this monsoon itself, the culvert might collapse cutting off the connection of the villages in the Mirik block with rest of Siliguri subdivision. The villagers further fear that if the culvert collapses then they would be in the mercy of the not-so-active authorities like GTA or the state Government in accordance to their experience till date.

Photo: R. Subrata (TNI)