Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Shimla rally appears to be on a shaky ground. Deputy Mayor of Shimla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British India, Tikender Singh Panwar has shot of a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to relocate his rally, as it could cause damage to the fragile ridge.
The CPI(M) leader Panwar, on Wednesday, urged Modi to shift the venue of the rally to some other suitable open space keeping the frail ecological state of the historical Ridge.
Citing the conservation of the Ridge to be a reason for his request, especially the water storage facility constructed over 100 years back, Panwar has said that the water tank has developed cracks and was highly vulnerable for large congregations.
Extending his greetings and welcoming the Prime Minister, Panwar has said that the city would would remember his visit. But at the same time requested him to shift the venue, saying that he and the Mayor had witnessed the cracks, and even the summer festival has been shifted onto the other side of the Ridge towards the Gaiety theatre.
Elaborating on the historic Ridge, Panwar said that the Ridge ground not only speaks about the basic hydrology of the Himalayas where on one side exists the catchment of Satluj river basin and on the other the Ganges, but
because of the reason that the Ridge has a large drinking water storage which dates
back to the British period and was constructed in 1910. Hence it is already 107 years old. This storage tank is a stone masonry built structure which does not have any reinforcement.
The letter further says that over the years instead of scrapping the concrete from the top, there has been more than 3 feet surcharge load of concrete in successive decades which makes this tank more vulnerable in its load bearing capacity owing to old stone masonry composition.
Urging Modi to intervene in the matter, Panwar has hoped that the Prime Minister would share his concern as he can understand the gravity of the issue.
Hailing Modi for the Government’s decisions to do away with VIP culture and deciding to remove red lights atop the official vehicles of dignitaries, even the President and PM, Panwar said that shifting of venue of PM’s rally from Ridge would go a long way in preventing large congregations at Ridge in future.