Siliguri, 28th June: Residents of Khudiram Pally near Siliguri’s Eastern Bypass have finally found relief from persistent waterlogging after an illegal structure blocking a drainage channel was demolished on Sunday.
A few days earlier, Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee visited the area to assess the waterlogging situation. During her inspection, she observed that despite the presence of a drain along the Eastern Bypass, the flow of water was being obstructed by an illegally constructed portion of a roadside shop. She subsequently directed that the encroachment be removed immediately.
Acting on the instructions, local BJP leaders and area residents carried out the demolition of the illegal section of the shop on Sunday. At the same time, accumulated waste was cleared from the drain to restore the free flow of water.
Following the removal of the obstruction, water began flowing through the drain at a much faster pace, leading to a significant reduction in waterlogging within a few hours. Residents, who had been struggling with the issue for a long time, expressed relief as the area gradually became free of stagnant water.
The prolonged waterlogging had also disrupted electricity supply in the locality for the past few days. With the water level receding, residents are hopeful that power services will be restored soon.
Police personnel from the Ashighar Outpost and the Ashighar Sub-Traffic Guard were deployed at the site to maintain law and order during the demolition drive and prevent any untoward incidents.