LUING BUSTY, BHOTEY GAON FACING SCARCITY OF DRINKING WATER

A model state of the country and next Switzerland of the east, these are the part of a vision that State Government has set for itself by 2015. But that line of vision still seems to be blurred. Why? NARESH CHETTRI reports.

Just 2 kilometers away from the bustling capital comes a dallying, Luing busty at Bhotay Gaon. This place is yet to see any developments that are the benchmarks for Sikkim becoming a model state. The area faces the unavailability of drinking water for past one year.

Locals told reporter that the taps installed in the area completely dried up no more throws water. “It is like a beautiful body without a soul” stated an elderly local.

They locals informed that they have taken up the task on their own hand and have bought their own rubber pipe coils and taken the water from the natural springs from Devithans and elsewhere and sharing among various households around the busty. The locals have made various water tanks entirely on their expense at natural springs and were distributing the drinking water at various household around the village. An appeal has been made to the Government to take initiative to provide them with drinking water and give the rural people relief from hassle in availing safe drinking water.

It’s the irony that on one hand massive conferences are being held on water regeneration of fresh water and springs on a regular basis I capital and just 2 km away from it, area is facing acute shortage of drinking water. It’s a high time the government should apply the theory on a practical basis just two kilometers away from the capital asserted the locals.

The Panchayat of the ward number 1 of Bhotay Goan Mr. DB Bhattarai while speaking to reporter informed that there are 96 households under his ward with approximately 550 populations. The reason behind the improper distribution of drinking water is due to the construction of roads which is affecting the water sources. But he further gave assurance that the memorandum has been submitted to the concerned department about the said matter and is awaiting positive outcome soon.

The BDO Ranka Ms. Urvashi Poudyal told that she had recently visited the Luing Busty and the vicinity around and further informed that the matter has been put up in the Department for sanction and the work shall kick start soon.

The Bhotay Goan Women Labor which is a Cooperative society comprising of 18 local women has appealed to the government to consent the works related to water treatment to be given to them which they assured to complete with immediate effect.

Further the road leading to Luing Busty from Pahatak line was in a ruin. The locals expressed their grievances over the incomplete construction of the road whereby the locals are facing a great difficulty in using the same road on a daily basis.

LB Chhetri one of the local said it has been about 3 years now since the construction of the road started but it has still not yet been completed and the dust from the incomplete construction are posing great difficulty especially to the small students who have to use the roads on a daily basis.

The community members further informed that during the rain the state of the road is even more pathetic, “ the road becomes like a swamp, like a wet rice paddy field, the feet drowns in the mud up-to a knee level during the rain” informed one of the locals. In these conditions the vehicle conveying this road is next to impossible stated the locals further and urged the government to initiate appropriate steps as soon as possible.

Bhotay Gaon is very near to capital and woes of community members can be heard. But what about those far remote villages where eve more pathetic conditions are prevailing? To make Sikkim a model state, it’s a time for government to put its words into action.

Courtesy:www.isikkim.com