McLeodganj residents complain of choked sewerage

Tribune News Service

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, July 10

With rains hitting the Dharamsala region, residents of upper Dharamsala, including McLeodganj and Bhagsunag that are epicentres of tourism in Kangra district, are complaining of a choked sewage system. A strong stench of choked sewerage can be felt in McLeodganj and Bhagsunag areas. It was the strongest around the main crossing of McLeodganj that is a hub of tourist activities in the area.

Suresh Kumar, a resident of McLeodganj, said whenever it rained, most of the sewer lines in the area were choked. The waste water is generally flowing onto roads, leaving a stench, which is giving a bad name to the area, he said.

Suresh Nehria, a resident of Bhagsunag, said the department had laid sewer lines with a diameter of just 6 inches in their area. These lines were not enough to carry the huge waste of hotels and houses in McLeodganj and Bhagsunag areas. Due to this, the sewerage remains choked in one part or the other in upper Dharamsala area, he said.

Some of the residents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said poor quality of work done in laying the sewer lines and chambers generally constructed in the middle of road were responsible for the mess.

When contacted, the Superintendent Engineer, IPH, Dharamsala, Deepak Garg, blamed locals and some hoteliers for the problem. He said in many cases people dispose of even solid waste in sewer lines due to which it gets chocked. “We redress the complaints of residents as soon as possible,” he said.

Garg said as per design, 6-inch pipes were enough for upper Dharamsala area has a steep gradient. He said in some areas, there have been complaints of damage to sewer lines and we are in the process of getting them repaired, he said.

Garg further said about 90 per cent of the upper Dharamsala buildings had been given sewerage connections. Even the septic tanks of buildings have been connected with sewerage system, he said.

The fact remains that the overflowing sewage and stench emanating from it is a cause of concern for the tourism industry.

Stench giving a bad name

Whenever it rains, most of the sewer lines in upper Dharamsala get choked. The waste water flows onto roads, leaving a stench, which gives a bad name to the area. Suresh Kumar, local resident

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