For CM Attention! Electricity in Maranda Restored After Three Days: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Shree Anandpur Satsang Ashram, Suryavanshi Urges Chief Minister to Act Against DFO Palampur

On the night of July 3, a huge tree, long expected to fall due to its weakened roots and soil erosion, finally succumbed to the rains and collapsed across the national highway at the Sood Complex.

Thankfully, there was no loss of life. However, the front portion of the Sood Complex was severely damaged, and the incident wreaked havoc on the local infrastructure. Electricity wires and poles were destroyed, an iron bridge over the road was damaged, and the power supply was cut off for three days.

This blackout caused significant distress to the nearby Rotary Eye Hospital, local residents, and business owners.

With the road closed, employees, students, and passengers faced great hardships. Motorized hand pumps ceased to function, forcing residents to travel long distances to fetch drinking water for three days.

• This calamity was largely attributed to the negligence and oversight of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Palampur, who failed to take preventive measures to cut down these hazardous trees.
• Despite multiple warnings and news articles highlighting the threat, no action was taken.
• The result was unnecessary suffering and disruption for the local community.

The government must hold forest officials accountable for their duties.

IFS officers and other forest department staff are employed to protect vegetation and wildlife, but their failure to manage forest fires and prevent incidents like this raises serious questions about their effectiveness.

These officials, who are paid significant salaries, should be answerable for their actions and the outcomes of their work.

Instead of fulfilling their responsibilities, many are accused of idling in their offices and exerting undue pressure on individuals for personal vendettas.

The DFO and other officials stationed near and opposite the Shani Seva Sadan are particularly criticized for their lack of proactive measures.

These officials are accused of abusing their power and neglecting their duties, causing harm to the community.

It is imperative that they take necessary actions, such as identifying and removing dangerous trees along roadsides and near buildings, to safeguard lives and property.

The Chief Minister must take note of this issue and demand accountability from the DFOs and other forest officials.

Their performance should be scrutinized, and they should be held responsible for any lapses in duty.

The government invests heavily in these officials, and it is only fair that they deliver tangible results for the betterment of the community and the state.

Currently, the Shree Anandpur Satsang Ashram in Maranda faces a similar threat from three trees on the verge of collapse. These trees pose a danger to the ashram, its devotees, schoolchildren, and passing vehicles. If these trees are not removed promptly, they could cause another major disruption in power supply and potentially endanger lives.

The DFO in Palampur must take immediate action to prevent another disaster and avoid further losses. The government should consider recovering the costs of any future incidents from the responsible officials and re-evaluate their roles if they continue to neglect their duties.

Rajesh Suryavanshi, Chairman of the Society for Human Welfare and Mission Against Corruption HP, has urged the Chief Minister to take strict action against the DFO Palampur to avert further mishaps.

The call for stringent measures reflects the community’s frustration and the pressing need for effective governance to ensure public safety and infrastructure integrity.