Patna,(BiharTimes): As the threat of flood still looms large on Patna on Saturday river experts and activists have once again started questioning the Nitish government’s ambitious plan to undertake construction work in a big way on the reclaimed land. They are also expressing doubt over the construction of Rs 2,234 crore Ganga expressway along the bank of the river.
As Ganga has not only returned to its old course its water even entered several localities of Patna, especially in its western part. This has revived the spectre of 1975 flood as water entered many buildings and newly built apartments in Digha and Danapur areas. “What would have happened had the commercial and residential complexes and malls already been built on the reclaimed land,” ask experts.
The state government has shown eagerness in undertaking construction work. For this it even invited noted architect and city-planner Hafeez Contractor. But social activists like Ranjeev, who has authored books on rivers of Bihar and their behaviour, calls such construction works as destruction.
“Uttarakhand mein jo kuch hua wah koi bhagwan ne kiya tha kiya. Yah wahi vikas ka nateeja tha.” (Is it God to be blamed for what happened in Uttarakhand. It was the result of the same concept of development), he told BiharTimes after visiting parts of the flood hit areas of Patna district.
Coming down heavily on the
21.5 km long Ganga expressway project he warned that it would have a serious consequences and complicate the problem of the people. He urged the state government not to provoke the nature as “we have repeatedly paid the heavy price.” He thanked God that it did not rain in the last couple of days in Patna. Had it happened water would have devastated the state capital.
He said Ganga originates from Himalaya and one can not predict how would it change its course or return to its old course. It would be hazardous to undertake such big projects so quickly without making proper study.
“See what happens next. We are hearing of Metro coming to Patna. How can it happen in the city which can not properly run its bus service,” he asked.
Experts and old timers whom BiharTimes talked to largely agree with what Ranjeev said. In no other city on the bank of river in India such ambitious projects on the reclaimed land has been undertaken. True there are roads along the river in many places, like on Jamuna in Delhi, but then in most of the places the roads have been built much before the bank got populated.
In Patna the Marine Drive type project will be built on the reclaimed land or on pillars as the entire city has come up just on its southern bank. Besides, it will pass from under two bridges: Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Road-cum-Rail Bridge between Digha and Sonepur.
“See how Ganga shifted to its old course in Bhagalpur causing a lot of problem,” commented another expert without wishing to be quoted. The so-called construction boom has spoiled the state capital in spite of Patna high court’s repeated intervention. Just imagine what would happen after the haphazard construction on the reclaimed land.
One of the experts said that it is shocking that all these so-called developments are taking place when the chief minister of the state is an engineer.
As no private firm came up for this expressway project the state government agency itself is now gearing to take it up.
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