GANGTOK, : Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista on Sunday visited the heritage
Victoria Falls Bridge in Darjeeling town and took stock of its present
dilapidated condition.
The
bridge was constructed in 1912 to connect Darjeeling town with the Sidrabong
Hydel Project, the first hydro-electric project in Asia.
Despite
being accorded heritage status by the ‘West Bengal Heritage Sites Commission’,
and carrying immense potential to be converted into major tourist attraction in
the region, no action has been taken towards the area’s preservation.
“Instead,
the entire Victoria Falls has been converted into a sewerage and drainage dumping
site. The entire area was reeking of untreated sewage, and the beautiful falls
has been converted into a garbage dumping site due to the neglect and apathy on
the part of Darjeeling Municipal authorities,” said the Darjeeling MP.
Bista
said the Darjeeling Municipality should be taking necessary action towards
preventing disposal waste at Victoria Falls area, and clean up this historic
site. The bridge itself is in need of immediate repairs, he added.
Bista
added that he would be reaching out to the Ministry of Culture to take
necessary steps towards the renovation and repairs of the heritage sites in Darjeeling
region including Town Hall (Municipality Building) and Victoria Bridge for
protecting and conservation as National Heritage Monuments.
