Victoria Falls Bridge in Darjeeling faces neglect, MP Raju Bista calls for urgent action
"Darjeeling Municipality should take the necessary steps to clean up this historic site and prevent further damage. Immediate action is needed to stop the disposal of waste here," Bista said.
NATIONAL
The historic Victoria Falls Bridge in Darjeeling, which was built in 1912 to connect the town with the Sidrabong Hydel Project, is in a state of severe neglect. Despite being granted heritage status by the West Bengal Heritage Sites Commission, no concrete steps have been taken for its preservation.
Raju Bista, Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and National Spokesperson of BJP, visited the site today and expressed deep concern over the condition of the bridge and its surroundings. He noted that instead of being developed into a major tourist attraction, the area has been turned into a dumping ground for sewage and garbage. The once-beautiful Victoria Falls is now heavily polluted, with untreated waste making the entire area unbearable.
Bista criticized the Darjeeling Municipal authorities for their inaction and called upon them to take immediate steps to stop waste disposal in the area. He emphasized the need for cleaning up the site and restoring its historical significance. Moreover, he pointed out that the bridge itself is in urgent need of repairs to ensure its structural safety and preservation.
"Darjeeling Municipality should take the necessary steps to clean up this historic site and prevent further damage. Immediate action is needed to stop the disposal of waste here," Bista said.
He also announced that he would reach out to the Ministry of Culture for intervention. He urged the government to take necessary steps for the restoration and conservation of Victoria Falls Bridge, along with other important heritage structures such as the Town Hall (Municipality Building) in Darjeeling. He stressed the importance of recognizing these sites as National Heritage Monuments to ensure their long-term protection.
During his visit, Bista was accompanied by elected Municipal Commissioners, including Pemila Dorjee, Sushma Lama, Sujata Shankar, Priya Dixit, Aruna Rai and Sandhya Thapa. Several prominent citizens of Darjeeling also joined him to voice their concerns about the deteriorating condition of the site.