Dehradun DM reviews works ahead of peak tourist season

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, April 19

Dehradun District Magistrate Ravinath Raman reviewed development works at a meeting held

on the Municipal Council (MC) premises here today. It was attended by officials from various departments, including MC president Manmohan Singh Mall.

With the peak tourist season nearing, the District Magistrate directed PWD officials to speed up hot-mixing work on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road. He said the quality of work should not be compromised. Members of the Uttarakhand Tourism Board suggested that the PWD should avoid carrying out works on weekends in view of heavy tourist rush.

MC ward member Vinod Semwal objected to the hot-mixing work underway on the Mall road and said it would raise the level of the road and during rains, water would enter shops. The DM directed officials to ensure adequate drainage system before starting the work.

Ward members Jasvir Kaur and Sashi Rawat raised the issue of the debris left behind after the completion of work by the PWD and the Peyjal Nigam.

The DM directed officials to get the debris removed and dump it in the designated area to avoid inconvenience to commuters.

Jal Sansthan officials told the DM that water supply was being disrupted due to the damaged power transformer at the pumping station near the Jhinsi natural spring source.

When the DM asked power officials about the replacement of the transfer, he was told that the road leading to the Jhinsi pumping station was damaged and they were finding it difficult to reach there.

The DM said he would make arrangements for airlifting the transformer so that water supply did not suffer in the peak tourist season.

He said if hoteliers make arrangements for rainwater harvesting, the problem of water shortage would be solved to a certain extent. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board member Sandeep said due to certain objections by the Forest Department and the MDDA, hoteliers were unable to construct water tanks required for rainwater harvesting.

The DM directed tourism officials to ensure that all paying guest houses were registered under the Sarai Act. He also ordered upgrade of George Everest House.

The DM directed the police department to formulate a traffic plan. RTO officials were directed to levy fine on vehicles parked in no-parking zones.

The DM said he was ready to provide additional home guards to manage traffic. The police department was directed to ensure one-way traffic near the railway out agency on the Mall road.

He said CCTV cameras be installed at all important locations in the town to manage traffic and check crime.

The DM banned any digging work till the peak tourist season was over. He said legal action would be taken against the defaulting agencies. He said a coordination committee headed by an SDM would be formed to ensure smooth working during the peak season.

The DM said he had been receiving complaints of property dispute in the Bhatta region. He directed officials to conduct a demarcation survey.