PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) is mulling installation of steel wire barriers along some marked stretches of Rispana river to prevent people from dumping garbage into it. The initiative is part of the corporation’s efforts to improve the city’s drainage system and protect the river from garbage dumping ahead of the monsoon season.
Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the civic body has intensified initiatives to clean drains, rivers and water channels across the city. The civic body officials said that there are a total of 672 drains in its jurisdictional area and a large-scale cleaning drive is underway to ensure smooth water flow and prevent waterlogging during heavy rainfall. Pandey further said that a special cleanliness campaign has been launched in Rispana river to help it have free flow during torrential rain. Similar operations are also being carried out in Bindal river with JCB machines. He said that once the work in Rispana is completed, the cleaning drive in Bindal will be accelerated.
While reviewing the monsoon preparedness, the commissioner also discussed measures to prevent untreated wastewater from getting into the river. He informed that the corporation is identifying drains that directly discharge into Rispana and is working on trapping them. Discussions have also been held with the district administration regarding the issue. “While most of the drains have already been trapped, efforts are underway to cover the remaining ones at the earliest,” he added.
The commissioner highlighted that the garbage dumping habit of people living along the river continues to be a major concern. ‘To address the issue, the corporation is considering installation of steel mesh barriers at sensitive points along the riverbank. These barriers will help prevent waste from being thrown into the river and help Rispana remain clean and pollution-free,” he added.
Pandey said that the corporation is determined to complete most of the cleaning and conservation-related works before the onset of the monsoon.
