Beautification plan for Mirik

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 18 September 2019 |Darjeeling: The lake town of Mirik is all set to get a major facelift.

Three departments of the state government along with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would come together for the initiative.

On , Tourism Minister Goutam Deb visited Mirik to review the project. Incidentally Mirik is a tourist destination in the Darjeeling district. The Mirik lake is the centre of attraction of the town.

However, with no proper sewage system in Mirik, the lake has borne the brunt over the years.

The GTA had prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the beautification of Mirik.

"We have proposed a few changes in the DPR. In the past we have had a number of meetings with the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs (UDMA,) Water Resource and Investigations and Tourism departments over Mirik. We had a similar meeting in Mirik on Tuesday with the District Administration, GTA, Mirik Municipality along with the three state departments to take stock of the project," said minister Goutam Deb to media persons.

The Tourism minister said that the project would have different components.

"The Water Resources and Investigation department will prepare a DPR for the desiltation project of the lake. There is 12 meter siltation. If two hydraulic machines are pressed into service, it will take at least 3 years to desilt the lake," stated Deb.

The houses are not connected to the existing Sewage Treatment Plant of the GTA nor are the Jhoras (big drains.) "The UDMA department will take care of this. Waste segregation of bio degradable and non degradable waste will be done in the houses. There will be a compactor station for solid waste management. The STP will treat the liquid waste from the houses and jhoras," stated Deb.

The UDMA will also prepare a project report for the beautification of the lake town. "It will be on the lines of a green city. There will be a Mirik Gate at the access point to the town. The areas around the lake will also be beautified," stated Deb.

The municipality will engage staff to clean the areas around the lake. They will work in two shifts. "The annual expenditure for the maintenance of the sewage system has been pegged at Rs 1.25 crores," stated Deb.

The Tourism Minister also stated that all tourist lodges in the Hills are being revamped.