Storm drain sought to tackle waterlogging

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsaar, June 16

Residents of low-lying areas and congested streets want the Municipal Corporation (MC) to get replaced the old sewage pipes besides installation of storm sewerage to save the city from waterlogging during the rainy days.

Though desilting work is taken up every year before the start of monsoon, even a moderate rain is enough to expose the tall claims of the civic body.

Congress councillor Mamta Datta raised the issue in recent General House meeting and demanded foolproof arrangements to deal with waterlogging.

According to information, only 15 per cent of the city area has storm sewer. Apart from the walled city, all outer localities are demanding storm sewerage to drain out the rainwater. Faulty sewer lines and improper disposal plants also add to the residents’ woes.

Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Sharifpura, said, “The MC has been conducting desilting of sewerage lines. The main lines require desilting but the link lines in narrow streets are decades old and they are narrow which should be replaced.” Harish Kumar, another resident, said, “Rainwater enters our houses every year. Separate storm sewer is the only solution.”

Apart from the old city areas, several new localities have been developed in the low-lying areas. Residents of Inderpuri, Islamabad and Kot Khalsa also face waterlogging due to poor planning. Residents want their demands to be fulfilled before the start of the monsoon.