The undergrounding of power cables in Haridwar was discussed in a meeting of electricity department officials and the members of the Haridwar Vyapar Mandal here on Wednesday. Work on the undergrounding of cables has been undertaken in various parts of the city and is now about to be started at the Har ki Paidi and surrounding area.

City president of the Vyapar Mandal, Sanjeev Nayyar said that the meeting was held with the officials in view of the thousands of people who arrive in the area daily.

He said that the market area in the locality is small, so if the ground is dug up and left as in the other areas, it would create major inconvenience.

General secretary of the Vyapar Mandal, Pradeep Kalra said that officials of the electricity department should start the work when they have enough resources, otherwise the problem will increase for both the traders and the electricity department. Executive engineer of the undergrounding project, Ankit Jain said that the survey for the work is going on in small market area. Since the road in the market is small, the sewer line and other facilities had been laid in a zig zag pattern which would make the undergrounding project a bit difficult.

 If the department is convinced of the feasibility, the project will be executed in the market area but work in Har ki Paidi and upper road will begin soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that with the first week of January already passing, the advent of pilgrims in Haridwar is expected to pick up pace around the Shivratri fair in February.

 Earlier, a few days ago the local traders at Ranipur Mod had staged a protest against the excavation for undergrounding project being left uncovered by the department. Following the protest, the department concerned filled up excavated sites.