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Roorkee localities dread monsoon period as problem of water logging compound  

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Roorkee localities dread monsoon period as problem of water logging compound

B. D. Kasniyal

Roorkee, Feb 6

The Shivalik region, now known as Roorkee town, mentioned in “Aine -é- Akbari”, for its rich revenue to Mughal treasure and known for one of first military

establishment in the British India as Roorkee cantonment established in 1853, and several other premier establishments like Roorkee Engineering college now Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Roorkee) has grown multi fold in last decades and faces severe civic problems particularly water logging during monsoon periods.

The Roorkee town has grown with urban settlements expanding rapidly due to settling of retired army persons from Bengal Engineering Group (BEG), Roorkee, Garhwali ex- army men and villagers migrating from the hills regions of Kumaon and Garhwal in order to provide better health and education for their families, is facing acute civic problems causing immense inconvenience to the public.

Roorkee town has 12 big and 60 small Nullahs, that flood during rainy season causing inconvenience every year. Pankaj Satija, councillor of Ramnagar ward of Roorke said that all the Nullahs in Roorkee town have been encroached upon and due to lack of drainage of water result in  waterlogging in several colonies.

“Moreover, a Rs.300 crore drainage project for Roorkee town, prepared 2 years ago, is still pending with the government,” said Pankaj Satija.

“The problem started in last 20 years when the town developed haphazardly without any planning by town plan authorities. The builders sold agricultural lands converted into housing colonies without any regard for drainage in connivance with administrative machinery,” said Deepak Semwal, a senior journalist in Roorkee.

A water logged street in Roorkee town during monsoon period.

A total of 18 localities of town including the localities of Dhandera, south  civil lines, Paniyala, Jal Vigyan colony, Ramnagar, Subhash Nagar, are worst hit by constant water logging problem.”This year it was water logging in some localities for over 20 days , some residents have even thought of shifting  from these localities due to this perennial problem.” said Semwal.

The locals affected by this problem dread the monsoon period as they have to wade through dirty accumulated water to get into or out of their homes for more than a fortnight or even more for water to dry.”Once the irrigation department had prepared  DPR to channelise this water from Roorkee town but from several years it has not proceeded ahead,” said Ram Gopal  Dhyani, a resident of Ashok Nagar locality of  Roorkee.

Vijay Nath, Municipal Commissioner of Roorkee Municipal Corporation said that a  334 meter long channel is being built while the Public Works Department is also working on a parallel channel in lower civil lines area of the city. He further said that the irrigation department is also making a detailed project report to address the problem of water logging in Roorkee town. The residents resent that Roorkee is not getting the desired attention from the state government.

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