Even while national security and other national level issues appear to be eliciting more focus in campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, some local issues are also eliciting the attention in places like Haridwar. One of the major recurring problems faced by people in Haridwar is that of water-logging during the rains at major crossings of the city. While many rounds of meetings were held by the political parties and their representatives, no concrete solution has been worked out till now, complain the citizens.
The local residents opine that a permanent solution needs to be ensure to tackle the water logging experienced every year during the rain in the three major areas of the city- Bhupatwala, Har Ki Paidi and central Haridwar encompassing BHEL area. During rains there are places in the city which are covered in up to three feet of water which also enters homes and shops. Due to this reason, the people in these localities dread the advent of the rains.
Speaking to this correspondent, resident of old Ranipur Mod, Ajay Arora said, “In the last Assembly polls, we were assured by the current urban development minister and city mayor that the problem had been solved and whole of water coming from BHEL shall be drained into Govindpuri colony. But for two months in July and August we had to face troubles. It was difficult to reach central part of Haridwar traversing through these areas”
The major crossings of Bhagat Singh Chowk, Chandracharya Chowk, Latowali, railway road, Vivek Vihar colony, Jwalapur Bazaar, Hazaribagh, Sandeshnagar, Bada bazaar, Sabzi Mandi, Bhim Goda are submerged in water during the rains.
Many times even cases of manhandling and disputes have been reported in the past over the matter of water logging. Just two years ago, during water logging at Chandracharya Chowk, the former mayor Manoj Garg and his supporters had a tiff with supporters of Satpal Maharaj. Cases were registered at police station from both the sides.
The previous Congress state government with then chief minister Harish Rawat had also made efforts to resolve the problem of water logging. Temporary pumps were installed at Chandracharya Chowk and with the help of generator water was pumped out. But every year two to three feet water gets collected at Chandracharya Chowk during the rain.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Congress candidate from Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency and former legislator Ambrish Kumar said, “The solution is possible but political will was lacking. I had been seeing this problem for years. With the one to one talks with BHEL administrators and levelling of cemented road under railway bridge, the water flow can be streamlined so that it does not get collected in the market area.”