The
Darjeeling district administration today demolished 13 structures
comprising houses and shops along the Teesta River at 29th Mile on
National Highway 10 under Kalimpong sub- division.
With rainfall battering the hills
incessantly, the Teesta is flowing above the danger zone and has damaged
several parts of the protection wall constructed by the National
Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to put the lives of 29th Mile
residents in danger.
This morning, the district
administration used bulldozers to raze the 13 structures located on the
riverside. “Thirteen houses were demolished at 29th Mile this morning.
Only recently two such structures were partially washed away by the
raging river. And considering the danger to life, the structures have
been demolished,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Anurag Srivastava.
He added, “The demolition was done peacefully with most affected
families even helping when the dismantling team reached the spot.”
The NHPC has two hydel projects – Teesta
Low Dam Project (132 mw) aRambi and Teesta Low Dam Project (160 mw) at
Kalijhora. The 29th Mile area, which is a forest village along NH-10,
has been facing the direct impact of the Rambi project that was
commissioned in 2013.
According to the district
administration, the evicted families have already been compensated by
the NHPC but they chose to hang on to their houses. “Of the 13, the NHPC
compensated 11 families two years ago while the remaining two refused
the compensation. At that time it was agreed they would move from the
area,” said Srivastava.
According to the district
administration, the 13 houses at 29th Mile was constructed on forest
land and compensation ranging from Rs 6 lakh to Rs14 lakh had been
provided to the families. Asked about the rehabilitation of the
displaced families, the DM said,
“As per our information, all these
families have alternative houses constructed from the compensation
amount received. Of the 13 houses, almost none had any furniture and it
appears these families were just holding on to the structures despite
receiving compensation.”
Apparently, Meena Sherpa, who owned two
of the structures, had refused to accept the compensation offered saying
it was not adequate. Today, watching her house and shops being
dismantled, she said, “I had refused the compensation offered because it
was not adequate. I have been living here since our grandfather’s time.
I had asked for a week’s time but my property was razed to the ground
without I being offered any settlement. I will meet the district
administration regarding this.”
Manoj Chhetri, whose
house-cum-restaurant was also demolished, was nostalgic but took solace
from the fact that he had been compensated. “It is sad when the house
you are living in for years gets demolished. But at least we have
received the compensation with which we can build another home nearby,”
he said.
NHPC officials expressed satisfaction
and said that they were open to providing compensation to those who had
refused earlier. “A committee was formed and a survey and assessment
conducted to provide compensation as per approved norms. Two of them had
refused but they can contact us and we will certainly offer them
adequate compensation,” said NHPC senior manager Tingal Kispot.
Torrential rain continues to create
havoc and numerous stretches of NH-10 and NH-55 linking Sikkim and
Darjeeling have been hit by landslides. Landslides occurred on the
Pankhabari road at Chilauney Dhura, Rati Khola road at Garidhura and
Rohini road at Kargil Dara under Kurseong sub-division. The other places
included Kali Mandir near Sevoke and between Karmatar and Jorethang in
Sikkim but they were cleared for vehicular movement later in the day. In
the last 24 hours, rainfall recorded in Kurseong was 102.4mm,
Darjeeling84.2mm, Kalimpong 40mm and Siliguri 138mm. (EOIC)
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