Drive to save spring from road project

Pithoragarh, February 16

The widening of the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh stretch under the all-weather road project has triggered a campaign at Gurna village here to “save” a natural water spring that local people say is under threat.

The spring at the Gurna Mata temple is the main source of water for the residents of the village, said Basant Ballabh Bhatt, organiser of ‘Gurna Dhara Bachao Abhiyan.

Then authorities concerned, however, said there was no threat to the spring from the project. Villagers claimed that it was the lone spring on the 150-km Pithoragarh-Tanakpur road, and was often used by travellers on the route that takes an arduous six hours to cover.

However, the NHAI said the it would ensure that the Rs 1,200 crore road-widening work did no harm to the spring.

“Besides standing instructions from the government that all natural resources of water must be saved, we have received a letter from Pithoragarh District Magistrate VK Jogdande requesting us to save the Gurna natural water spring at all costs,” NHAI Executive Engineer LD Mathela said.

He said that the company carrying out the construction had been told to comply with the instructions and seek expert advice from geologists, if needed.

Mathela said that two such springs at Barakot and Dhaun were saved when the road was widened there.

The work is underway on the last 15-km portion of the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh road, which is being widened from three metres to six metres. — PTI