Loaded trucks plying through Shivalik Park damaging drains, incomplete road; Committee issues warning, “Will look into it,” assures MLA

Residential colony in Meherpur area, Shivalik Park connects Medical Road to Sonai. That connection has emerged as a nightmare for the residences. Heavily loaded trucks ply through the road throughout the day. Normally, such giant trucks are not seen plying in residential areas especially in such high numbers, then why it happens so often in Shivalik Park. This question is keeping the development committee members awake at night.

On Sunday, the development committee organised a meeting at the local puja mandap/community hall. It was decided in the meeting that the residents of Shivalik Park will have to put their foot down and protest democratically in order to get the administration’s attention.

For the freshers, the road inside Shivalik Park is under the PWD. It was deputy speaker and Sonai MLA, Aminul Haque Laskar’s poll promise to built the road. In all fairness, he did commission some work and CC blocks were installed, but only about 50% of the road has been built. “For the remaining work, the development committee ran from post to pillar, met MP, MLA but only got verbal assurances. The work has not been done,” informed the development committee through a press statement.

After the road was commissioned, the development committee built drains on one side of the road spending money collected from the residents. “Because of these loaded trucks plying in such high numbers, the drains that we constructed spending our hard-earned money are getting damaged. There can be a landslip at any moment which will not only damage the drain but also ruin the road,” said Debashish Paul, general secretary of the development committee.

To garner the attention of MLA and the administration, the residents will demonstrate on Sunday. If that does not result in any action, the committee has warned that it will grow its protest. They fear that with assembly elections knocking at the door, the model code of conduct could be enforced at any moment and that would pause all the developmental activities including the construction of remaining parts of the road inside Shivalik Park.

The deputy speaker and Sonai MLA Aminul Haque Laskar who also often travels through the road with his convoy said, “He will look into the matter.”

The committee members feel that the loaded trucks use Shivalik Park as a gateway to avoid Rangirkhari Police Station. “There must be something illegal in those loaded trucks otherwise why would they try to avoid a police outpost,” questioned secretary, Debashish Paul.

Aminul Haque Laskar is of the view that if this is happening then it is a serious issue. “Any illegal transportation of goods, be it through Shivalik Park or any other roads, is a matter of law and order. If the development committee feels something illegal is going on, they must submit a police complaint. I will also talk to the police,” said the deputy speaker.

Debashish Paul also alleged that there are “land mafias” who unload sand, stone at night and those remain, “stockpiled” at the side taking a substantial part of the road meant for the movement of general public and vehicular traffic.

The MLA termed it as a serious issue. “Any businessman or landlord, they can only stock materials at their own land. If they are stocking them on the roads, it is an illegal activity and again the committee must discuss it with the police department,” said Aminul Haque Laskar.