PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Haldwani
The Nainital district administration has ordered an investigation after the angry locals staged a demonstration in the Lalkuan tehsil premises, alleging that the government funds worth crores of rupees had gone down the drain after the flood protection embankments and check dams built on the banks of the Gaula river to save the farmers’ lands from erosion had been washed away in the monsoon rain. They said they were convinced that there had been corruption in the quality of the work which had an important bearing on the life of the villagers, particularly the farmers.
Notably, Gaula overflows every rainy season and the villagers, living on its banks, suffer heavy losses of crops due to soil erosion. In the past too, lands and homes of many have been eroded by the gushing river. But till now no permanent solution has been found by the government and the district administration to the land erosion menace. “Flood protection embankments and check dams come up here every year at the cost of crores and they get swept away every monsoon,” lamented one of the demonstrators, adding that the investigation must fix responsibility and punish those who indulge in corruption at the expense of the common people’s lives and livelihood.
Confirming things, the sub-divisional magistrate, Haldwani, Rahul Shah said that an investigation had been ordered following the receipt of the complaint by the Nainital district magistrate. “For this, a joint committee is being formed along with the officials of the Forest and Irrigation departments. After the committee will submit its report, further action will be taken,” he added.
