Villagers of upper Malla Johar valley facing problems in crossing overflowing rivulet
Villagers of upper Malla Johar valley facing problems in crossing overflowing rivulet
B.D. Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Sept 7
Villagers going to their villages in Malla Johar (upper part of Johar valley), besides security persons including army ITBP personnel going to their respective security posts at Indo-China border are facing difficulties to cross a flooded rivulet named Bilnu Gadhera, some 48 km ahead of Munsiyari town, as there is no alternate way to reach upper regions of Johar valley.
“After the foot bridge, situated at this place, swept away in 2024 floods, the administration did not reconstruct the foot bridge, due to that the pedestrian going towards Johar valley, face fear of being swept away as a person was swept away in strong currents a day before, though he was saved but the fear continues, “said Sriram Singh Dharmasaktu, president of Malla Johar Vikas Samiti, based in Munsiyari.
“As the alternate way to reach upper part of Johar valley, named as Milan to Dung track route has already been damaged due to heavy debris caused by construction of Munsiyari -Milam motor road. The villagers are dependent on this route,” said Dharmasaktu.
Several pilgrims, who wanted to attend Nanda Devi festival at Nanda temple in Milan village, some 20 km from here, had to abandon their pilgrimage as the rivulet is flooded and women and children are not in position to cross it. “They had prayed and bowed their hands to Nanda Devi from here only,” said Lok Bahadur Singh, who returned from Bilnu rivulet.
Deepak Kumar Saini, Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Pithoragarh, when asked about the problem, said that he has sent a proposal for the reconstruction of the foot bridge.” The foot bridge would be constructed before next monsoon,” he claimed.
