Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 26 Jul: Amidst continuous rainfall in Mussoorie, landslides and heavy debris on the road have once again compounded difficulties for the public. Traffic on the Mussoorie-Dehradun route was disrupted for nearly an hour after a massive amount of debris suddenly slid onto the road near ‘JP Bend’.
Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides, leaving tourists, locals, and vehicles transporting essential goods stranded in the jam. Upon receiving the information, a National Highway (NH) team arrived at the scene with a JCB machine, cleared the debris, and restored the flow of traffic. However, even after the road reopened, resentment persisted among the public regarding why debris keeps washing onto the road during every spell of rain.
Locals allege that debris generated from ongoing hotel and other construction activities in the areas above the road is being dumped into drains and forests. During rains, this debris washes down onto the main road, causing frequent disruptions and increasing the risk of accidents. Residents warn that, if illegal debris dumping is not curbed in time, the situation could worsen in the coming days. They allege that thousands of tonnes of construction waste have been dumped into forests and natural drainage channels, yet the departments concerned are failing to address the issue.
Questioning the working style of the National Highways Authority and relevant departments, local citizens stated that merely sending a JCB to clear the road each time is not a permanent solution. There is a need to identify those illegally dumping debris along the roadside and take strict action against them to ensure a permanent solution to the recurring problem of road blockages. Amidst continuous rainfall, the frequent accumulation of debris on the Mussoorie-Dehradun route is evolving from a mere traffic issue into a major concern involving environmental conservation, the monitoring of construction activities, and administrative accountability.
