Darjeeling, June 8 -- Efforts to restore the health of Mirik's iconic lake and improve the town's sanitation infrastructure received a major boost on Monday as state minister in charge of Municipal Affairs and Women & Child Welfare department, Agnimitra Paul, announced the installation of two additional Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Mirik and reviewed the ongoing desiltation and rejuvenation projects of Sumendu Lake.
The minister also visited the landslide-affected areas and asked officials to speed up rehabilitation efforts.
Paul is currently on a tour of North Bengal. On Sunday, she arrived in Darjeeling. On Monday, she visited Mirik. The minister was accorded a warm welcome in the lake city, but was also greeted with "We want Gorkhaland" slogans raised by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, an ally of the BJP.
"Mirik is among the five Himalayan Hill Cities. We will take all necessary steps to transform Mirik into a modern city. A step in the direction is infrastructure development. I have directed authorities to prepare plans on these lines," stated Paul.
Talking to media persons, the minister expressed concerns regarding encroachments and illegal constructions. "I have directed the Municipality to serve notices to these illegal constructions and provide them a deadline to rectify the issue. If they adhere, then there is no problem. However, if they don't, we will have to take action. we will not try to demolish but rather try to take steps to bring these constructions under the legal framework. If, however, the building is totally illegal, having flouted all norms, then we will be compelled to take necessary steps," stated the minister.
The minister was informed that nearly 1050 of the town's approximately 2800 households currently discharge sewage directly into the lake. To address the issue, two new STPs will be established within the next three months in addition to the existing treatment facility, ensuring that sewage is treated before being released into the environment.
The minister also reviewed works aimed at rejuvenating and desilting Sumendu Lake, a major tourist attraction of Mirik, aimed at improving water quality, enhance the lake's aesthetic appeal and strengthening Mirik's tourism potential.
Paul, accompanied by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, visited Dhargaon in Toklang, Soureni, one of the areas worst affected by the October 2025 landslides. Four people had died, five were injured and several houses were destroyed or damaged in the disaster. Observing that rehabilitation work had progressed at a snail's pace, she instructed district officials to identify relocation sites and strengthen mitigation measures, including drainage systems and retaining walls, immediately. She also visited the under-construction Dudhey bridge that connects Siliguri to Mirik. The old one had been washed away in the October 2025 flash flood.
Earlier in the day, the minister inspected the renovation of the historic North Sinchel Lake and South Sinchel Lake, along with the construction of a third lake (reservoir) being undertaken under a Rs 60 crore project. Her day had started with a visit to the Mahakal temple in Darjeeling, followed by a visit to an ICDS centre at Lungtham in Happy Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling, to review child welfare services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.