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.