Sewerage, drinking water facility elude Mandi MP’s adopted village in Old Manali

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, April 30

Old Manali village, adopted by Mandi MP Ram Swaroop Sharma in Kullu district, could not be a model village. It lacks sewerage connectivity, adequate potable water supply and better pathways.

Villagers rue that the sewerage connectivity is a long pending demand of people. They are facing shortage of potable water and pathways are broken. Manali is a small, beautiful hill station. Old Manali is just four kilometres away from Manali.

Houses are constructed with concrete and forest wood, which are a major attraction for tourists who visit here in a large number every year. Due to tourist rush, villagers use their houses for commercial purposes. According to villagers, people are using septic tank. Sometimes, these get overflow, causing foul smell in the village. They say that it may invite diseases.

“Last year, CM Jai Ram Thakur visited Manali and said the BJP MP had been provided Rs 40 lakh for the village development,” they said. Monika Bharti, pradhan, Old Manali, said the MP had provided streetlights to the village. Their major demand was the sewerage connectivity and potable water supply to the village. Till now, only Rs 11 lakh were received for its development.

Ram Swaroop Sharma said the sewerage connectivity project was under process. After coming to power, efforts would be made to expedite it.