Blockade on Indo-Bhutan SAARC Road

Indo-Bhutan road link was snapped on the SAARC Road in Jalpaiguri district today following road blockade put up by locals to protest against alleged drinking water scarcity, officials said.
Locals blocked the Indo-Bhutan SAARC road near Kanthalguri Tea Garden area and Chaimurchi in Jalpaiguri district since 6 AM demanding availability of drinking water, they said.
Dhupguri Block Development Officer Soumen Dutraj told PTI the locals were being requested to lift the blockade.
Arrangements were being made to send additional policemen to the spot, he said.
Besides goods-laden trucks, businessmen and tourists bound for Bhutan, students and daily commuters who travel to Banrhat, Birpara and Binnaguri were affected.

Examinees were taking a much longer route to reach their examination centres in the district.
Dutraj said although a water pump had been installed to solve the drinking water problem, it could not be operated due to erratic power supply in the area.
Due to its geographical position, land-locked Bhutan has to depend on the road network of Jalpaiguri for supply of goods and tourist inflow.