3 yrs on, residents await retaining wall along Bindal river

Time of India

16 hours ago

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Dehradun: Nearly three years after residents demanded a proper retaining wall along the Bindal river, the project remains pending, leaving several localities vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season.
Legal proceedings related to Bindal have been pending in the district court since 2022.
Shiva Verma, an advocate from the area, said accumulated garbage and the lack of safety walls choke the drains, frequently inundating the low-lying areas of the river. "In past hearings, the irrigation department claimed it requires Rs 3 lakh for constructing the retaining wall, but lacks the necessary funds. Years have passed, yet there's no permanent solution to problems affecting thousands of residents on a regular basis," he said.
On Friday, local residents and officials from both the irrigation department and Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) conducted a joint inspection at the Kanwali Road bridge.
"The problems are recurring, and the intensity worsens every year. Earlier, garbage blockages were a major issue, but the corporation is doing a better job now. However, a concrete retaining wall is the urgent need. The existing structure is of poor quality and heavy rains often wash away the embankments.
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Even electricity poles on the riverbed are eroding and are a threat to the public," said area councillor Vishal Kumar.
He also said that during monsoon, water level in the river is so high that the bridges along Bindal are overrun with water. "There is a need for increasing their height and width. Localities like Kanwali Road and further downstream like Govindgarh face the brunt of flooding," said Kumar.
Meanwhile Verma said that Friday's inspection revealed damages to several sections of the existing safety wall, as well as to a gate meant to block garbage from entering the river.
"Waste is being pushed to the sides. It needs to be removed completely. The sides have to be cleared to identify more weak points for urgent repairs. Another monsoon is passing by. We need authorities to act soon," he said, adding that the evidence collected will be presented in court during the next hearing scheduled for July 22.
Avnish Bhatnagar, assistant engineer of the irrigation department, told TOI that any damages revealed during the inspection will be addressed on priority. "We keep carrying out routine repairs on the existing retaining wall. Garbage gates were also installed some time ago," he said.
Sources also said that the request for a budget to build a retaining wall has already been presented to the govt and is pending approval.