Lower Arithang at risk of slipping even lower

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 04 July: The continuous rainfall of the past week has deteriorated the slip zone at Lower Arithang along the section where it connects with the Indira Byepass and is now posing a threat to the houses of around ten families living there. The area, according to the residents, has been slipping away since 2007, but this year, it has emerged as a more serious sinking zone. This, despite some precautionary works having been carried out in the past. All of those patch-up jobs are now crumbling away.
Speaking to NOW!, Chowrash Tamang, whose house was identified as ‘most affected’ and in need of ‘immediate restoration’, during the visit of the Minister-cum-area MLA, NK Pradhan, District Collector, D Anandan and SDM, Gangtok, Dr. AB Karki recently, said, “To solve this problem, a proper retention wall has to be constructed to protect this area from sinking further and the officials, who visited us have assured of the same. We hope that the problem will be solved now.”

 SDM, Gangtok, Dr. Karki, confirmed that the job relating to planning and estimation have been assigned to UD& HD and accordingly Land Revenue and Disaster Management will allocate the budget.
Meanwhile, DC [East] added that his office in the meanwhile will be carrying out immediate restoration works of up to Rs. 50,000.
“We are preparing a list of the vulnerable locations which need immediate restoration works. This works will be sanctioned at a meeting of the District Level Relief Committee to be held in a day or two,” informs Mr. Anandan.
To deliver a one-time solution, the SDM said, “A retention wall at the road level will be constructed by the BRO. Remaining works like construction of step walls, jhora training and maintenance of sewage lines will be carried out by the Government.”
Besides Mr. Tamang, the houses of NB Chettri and DB Sewa have also developed internal and external cracks.
Earlier on Friday, a team led by DFO [T], East, Forest Department, Nombi Tshering Bhutia had cut down trees from the sliding area posing threat to vehicular traffic below and commuters along the Byepass Road.
Regarding this, the residents opined that some trees still remain, which are posing threat.