Residents of a class-4 National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF) building in Phuentsholing are worried about dengue and other diseases.

This is because the drain overflows whenever it rains, causing foul smell.

The residents, opting anonymity, said it has been more than a year since the particular drain overflowed.

A tenant said she had even written to the Phuentsholing NPPF regional office about three times. “Nothing was done.”

She said she was even told to leave the apartment when she complained.

The tenant also said that all other tenants have appealed to the regional office. “During rainy days, the dirty water reaches the door on the ground floor.”

Another tenant said that the building even houses some NPPF staff but nothing was done.

“I wonder if there is an order to not maintain this particular drain,” he said, adding that it was difficult to live in summer. “It stinks.”

Meanwhile, the regional operations officer with NPPF, Jigme Yeshey, said the drain overflowed about five months ago.

He said the problem came when a private building owner nearby recently refused to provide drain connection to the particular building. “Earlier, two NPPF buildings were connected to the private building drain from where it was connected to the thromde’s drain.”

He also explained that NPPF had to build a different canal to connect the drain directly to thromde drain. “As thromde’s drain is on a higher ground, NPPF drain could not connect properly and whenever it rained, water from the thromde’s drain flowed back.”

Jigme Yeshey said they are waiting for budget in the next financial year. “It could take another two to three months to get budget.”

He said after the regional office is approved with a budget in the 2018-2019 financial year, the building’s plinth would be raised so that the drain could be constructed at the same level with thromde’s drainage system.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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