Jarring notes: Musical fountain in Palampur unused for years

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, July 11

The town’s first musical fountain, installed in front of the Palampur Municipal Corporation (MC) office, has been lying unused for the past four years. The MC, which is responsible for its operation and upkeep has not made any effort to restore it.

Project in pipeline

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A project for the beautification of the town was in the pipeline and the musical fountain will either be repaired or replaced with a new one. — Gopal Nag, Palampur mayor

The fountain was installed four years ago by the then Municipal Council and later with the formation of Municipal Corporation all assets of the old council, including the fountain, were taken over by the corporation.

The fountain has been installed at Sita Ram Park, which is visited by hundreds of people, especially senior citizens and children daily. The MC has not only neglected the fountain, but also the park which is the only place in the town where one could enjoy a leisurely walk in the evening.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that the previous council had hired a private contractor for the construction of the musical fountain. After its installation, the fountain worked barely for three months.

After the formation of the Municipal Corporation in 2021, neither the fountain was repaired nor replaced. Since the fountain is not functional, stagnant water gives out a foul smell, causing inconvenience to the visitors, besides garbage can be seen littered around it.

Over Rs 15 lakh were spent on the installation of the fountain from the state exchequer, which has gone down the drain.

Palampur Municipal Corporation Mayor Gopal Nag said a project for the beautification of the town was in the pipeline and the musical fountain would either be repaired or replaced with a new one.

He said the MC was well versed with the facts and necessary steps were being taken to expedite beautification works in the town. He said according to experts, the musical fountain has become obsolete, and therefore, it could not be repaired.

A number of residents have requested the MC authorities to make the musical fountain functional, but nothing concrete has been done so far. Social activist BK Sood said, “The fountain is situated in front of the MC office, but officials did not bother to repair it.”

He said the matter was also brought to the notice of the local MLA, who had assured to repair the fountain, but in vain.