Principal secretary Sashi Shekhar (right) at the meeting in Bodhgaya on Wednesday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, June 29: A check dam has been proposed on Falgu river to help retain water throughout the year.

During the two-day meeting which concluded today, the Gaya Municipal Corporation has submitted a proposal to the state urban development and housing department principal secretary Shashi Shekhar for construction of a check dam on it.

The proposed project would cost around Rs 20 crore.

If water is retained in the river, it would also help retain underground water level in other areas of Gaya that have been facing depletion of water over the past few years.

Falgu is a subterranean river, the upper bed of which remains dry during summer but when the sand of the riverbed is dug to 2ft or 3ft, water can be found.

Over the past two years, the underground water level of Falgu too has depleted and water is now not found even after digging up to 10ft.

This has been a matter of concern for district administration and Gaya Municipal Corporation authorities.

Gaya Municipal Corporation mayor Shagufta Parveen and the deputy mayor Akhauri Onkarnath, alias Mohan Shrivastava, submitted the proposal to the principal secretary during his visit to Gaya on Tuesday.

The mayor said: “An overall proposal worth Rs 104 crore has been submitted to the principal secretary. This includes installation of sodium vapour lights on the main streets of the township, construction of a marriage hall, renovation of the town hall and cleaning of the underground drains.”

Citing shortage of employees the mayor and the deputy mayor also asked for permission from the principal secretary, to appoint 500 employees on contract.

The principal secretary today also visited Bodhgaya and inaugurated the computerised office of Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat, which would facilitate the residents of the area to deposit holding tax online.

The principal secretary also held a meeting with the Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat officials including executive officer Sushil Kumar Mishra, chairperson Priti Singh and vice-chairman Dinesh Singh.

The principal secretary asked the officials at the meeting to check unauthorised construction around the Mahabodhi Mahavihara and other parts in of the town.

The officials informed Shekhar that notices have been served to around 170 individuals, Buddhist monasteries, hotels and organisations for unauthorised construction around Bodhgaya.

Shekhar said: “Suggestions and complaints regarding the confusion over the master plan of Bodhgaya have also been invited from the people.”

At the meeting, Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat chairperson and the vice-chairman demanded the transfer of government land at Bodhgaya to the nagar panchayat under provisions of Bihar Municipal Act, 2007.

Bodhgaya Citizens’ Forum general secretary Suresh Singh demanded that a Bodhgaya heritage conservation committee be formed, which would look after the conservation of the heritage sites in and around the holy city.