Overflowing sewage raises stink in heart of McLeodganj

Overflowing sewage right in the middle of the iconic main square at McLeodganj is putting off domestic as well as international tourists, who come here to attend the teachings of the Dalai Lama.

Ashwani Sharma, a tourist from Delhi, said the McLeodganj square was the only open space in the hill town where the tourists could gather in the evening. It was unfortunate that the authorities had not been able to plug the leakage right in the middle of the town, he said.

Cindy, a tourist from US, said, “I have been visiting McLeodganj for the past three decades. The sanitary conditions in the hill station was deteriorating.”

Sources said the Jal Shakti Department had laid sewerage in McLeodganj about three years ago. Since its installation the area residents have been complaining of leakage at various places.

Vipin Sharma, a local, alleged that the Jal Shakti Department had laid 6 inch pipes to carry sewage of entire McLeodganj and adjoining Bhagsunag.

The pipes were not wide enough to carry cater to the local and floating population, he said. “Besides the quality of sewerage tanks constructed in the area is also bad and they are collapsing time and again leading to overflowing of sewage on roads,” he claimed.

Officials in the Jal Shakti Department blamed heavy traffic flow in the area for the damage to sewerage tanks.

Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department at Dharamsala, Sumit Katoch said the problem of leakage of sewage occurred in the McLeodganj area whenever the tourist rush increases. “We have kept a team in McLeodganj to redress the problem,” he said, while ruling out any fault in the design sewerage system.

The Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Suresh Mahajan, when contacted, said he would get the matter checked.