Shimla: Lack of drainage leaves road in mess during rain

Navneet Rathore

Shimla, February 23

The lack of a proper drainage system is a major problem for people of the Annandale ward under the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC). Several areas of the ward lack proper drains due to which water flows on the road when it rains.

Some drains are either fully or partially blocked by soil and loose stones that keep falling from the hillside.

Vikas, a resident of Annandale, who also runs a shop selling goods of daily needs said many places lacked proper drains and as a result the road turned into a nullah causing a problem to the residents. “It is very difficult to walk on the road or cross it during the rainy season. These drains also get blocked during the rain and in winter season,” he added.

He said the administration should build proper retaining walls as the existing ones were old and damaged at many places. Deepika, another resident of the ward, said the people had to face inconvenience due to the lack of a proper drainage system.

She said the monkey menace is another big problem for the residents here. “Just like any other part of Shimla, our ward, too, is grappling with the monkey menace. The monkeys attack people and snatch eatables from them. It has become very dangerous to walk on the streets. The authorities should take steps to control the menace.”

Neelam, another resident of the ward, said people here also faced inconvenience due to idle parking of vehicles. “This leads traffic jams during the rush hour. Worst affected are office-goers and schoolchildren who get late without any fault of theirs,” she added.

Local councillor Urmila Kashyap said she had prepared a report regarding the proper channelisation of drains in the ward and the same had been sent to the Municipal Corporation. She said a Detailed Project Report for the same is being prepared.

On the issue of parking, she said the main problem here was the lack of land for the construction of a parking lot. “Before purchasing new vehicles, many people on paper show that they have parking space. But, at a later stage, they park their vehicle on the roadside which leads to traffic jams,” she said.

“There are some vacant spaces which can be used for constructing parking lots, for which we are seeking the permission from the authorities concerned,” said Kashyap.

On the issue of poor drainage, she said many people who had raised construction had not maintained building setbacks. “There is no space left for drains which is the cause behind the problem of poor drainage,” she said.

Kashyap said the ward also had some trees hanging dangerously and needed lopping for which she was seeking the permission from the authorities.