Roorkee is known for the famed Ganga Nahar Canal which was conceived by Sir Pourbly Cautley, the celebrated English engineer. It came up around 170 years ago during the reign of the East India Company. It was considered the life line of the western Uttar Pradesh as it provided the irrigation facility to the whole of western UP.
The canal is known for its archaeological marvel as it is a unique example of civil engineering and architecture. The specialists say that the aqueduct of the canal is an example of excellence as at some places the canal is flowing below the river while at others it is flowing above.
Sadly enough, the heritage is now in a dilapidated state with neither the administration nor the irrigation department taking care of the bridge on Solani river. Though it is written on the pillar of the bridge that heavy traffic is not allowed what is happening is that the heavy vehicles like buses and even tractor trolleys, over-loaded with stones , sand, stone dust and wood logs, are regularly crossing the bridge, leaving it precariously vulnerable. Earlier, a barrier was there on both ends of the bridge and also a divider to stop heavy vehicles from getting on the bridge.
However, they have now disappeared and consequently, heavy vehicles are crossing it with impunity.
The pillars of the heritage bridge on Solani river where the Ganga canal is passing above tells the same story of utter neglect and indifference.
Things are really grim as the foundation of the pillars number 2 and 3 are no more and the platform for supporting the pillars have been washed away.
Observers say that if prompt steps to restore and preserve the bridge and the canal are not taken the canal would just remain as a part of glorious history in the realm of wonderful architecture and civil engineering in the days to come.
“What is distressing is the fact that the irrigation department cannot care less for the restoration and the preservation of the heritage.
No repair or minimum maintenance work is being done and the cry of some people for saving it from imminent destruction is falling on deaf ears,” says an observer.
"It is an industrial monument of civil engineering of not-next-to-it category in the country.
The State Government should, thus, wake up for its urgent restoration. Being a rich heritage of Roorkee, it should be preserved for the coming generations," said Tapan Susheel, a social commentator.