Residents expect early redressal of grievances

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 31

A new House of the Municipal Corporation (MC) will be formed after the civic body elections in 2018. Residents want the civic body to redress their issues in the coming year. Uncovered garbage dumps, pollution in Buddha Nullah, water contamination, improper drainage system, encroachments, illegal constructions and fleecing at parking lots are some of the major issues being faced by the residents in the city. However, Ludhiana MC, which is the largest civic body in the state, is yet to find out a permanent solution to the problems being faced by residents of different wards. In January 2016, Ludhiana’s name was featured in the first list of 20 cities to be developed as smart cities. However, the smart city project is going at a snail’s pace, while basic amenities are still a distant dream for residents of different wards under the MC. Despite repeated attempts, MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh was not available for comment.

Major civic issues

Contaminated water supply: The outbreaks of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis have occurred in different areas, including Makkar Colony, Giaspura, Preet Nagar, Jawaddi and Jawahar Nagar, in the past few years due to contaminated water supply. Apart from these, the residents in many city areas are still complaining of contaminated water supply. They want that the water being provided by the MC be safe for drinking.

Uncovered garbage dumps: There are around 50 secondary uncovered garbage dumps along or on the roads, giving a shabby look to the city. Some of these dumps have come up on National Highways 1 and 95. The civic body had planned to install static waste compactors to redress the issue of uncovered garbage dumps, but the project is hanging fire due to lack of funds. The stench emanating from these dumps create nuisance for residents and commuters.

Waterlogging and choked sewers: Waterlogging has become a chronic issue in old as well as several new parts of the city. Whenever it rains heavily, water accumulates in different areas, including Transport Nagar, Dholewal Chowk, Gill Road, Dashmesh Nagar, near Clock Tower, Madhopuri, Samrala Chowk areas, Kashmir Nagar, Hambran Road, Model Town, Rajguru Nagar, College Road, Rani Jhansi Road. Besides, choked sewers is a major issue in Dhandari, Giaspura, Jeevan Nagar, EWS Colony, Tajpur Road, Bahadur Ke Road and other areas of the city. Residents want storm sewers to be installed in the entire city.

Encroachments: The MC keeps ignoring thousands of temporary as well as permanent encroachments across the city. Despite the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, action has not been taken against many defaulters. Temporary encroachments cause major traffic snarls on roads. The MC has also been delaying setting up of vending zones for street vendors, who station their carts on roads. 

Illegal constructions: Commercial and residential structures are raised either without getting the map approved or against the approved plan. Besides, so many illegal colonies have come up in the city. Residents of various areas complained that action is generally avoided against illegal constructions in the city. Notably, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier admitted during his visit to city that many buildings have been constructed in an unauthorised way. He said an online system will be introduced for the easy approval of building plans.

Buddha Nullah: Untreated industrial effluent and sewerage are still being released into the Buddha Nullah and further into the Sutlej. The governments have so far failed in finding out a permanent solution. Every year, lakhs of rupees are spent to remove silt and solid waste from the Buddha Nullah as there is no check on violators polluting the nullah. Besides, other polluted drains, including Ganda Nullah, are also crying for attention. Whenever it rains heavily, a few drains generally overflow, leaving residents in lurch.

Parking woes: There is a major problem of parking vehicles in the city markets. Many commercial complexes also lack parking facility. In the absence of any parking arrangement at major markets, including Ghumar Mandi, Model Town and others, visitors are generally forced to park vehicles on roads, causing obstructions in the smooth flow of traffic. Besides, the civic body is also running paid parking lots at some places. Fleecing of visitors is rampant at most paid parking lots. 

Potholed roads: The patch work to repair potholes on roads is not being conducted on time. Even damaged roads of dairy complexes, Transport Nagar, Industrial areas, EWS Colony, Sua Road (Phullanwal to Jawaddi), Harvinder Nagar, Khajoor Colony on Bahadur Ke Road among others are yet to be re-carpeted. Apart from this, a project for the reconstruction of Jagraon Bridge is getting delayed.

Green belts and parks: Many green belts and parks in the city are neglected. Residents have been demanding the development of Bhai Chattar Singh Park and Atam Nagar Park in the city. The green belts on the Old GT Road, Ishmeet Singh Road, Industrial area, Ferozepur Road and others are crying for attention.

Demand for basic amenities grows louder

I want to see major improvements in the city during 2018. The MC should construct multilevel car parking lots at various markets. There should be no fee for parking of vehicles. It should be made mandatory for all to park vehicles only in designated parking lots. All city parks and green belts must be developed. Dustbins should be installed at all public places and workers should also be appointed for the cleaning of bins on time. The open garbage dumps should be removed. Solid waste must be disposed according to the norms so that it create minimum pollution. —Jyotsana Dhingra, Physics lecturer

I have been staying in the city for the past eight years. I observed that a large number of private buildings have come up in the city, but no other major development is seen. People are still struggling for basic amenities. I want the MC and government to take measures to make Buddha Nullah pollution free. There is a dire need to improve solid-waste management system in the city. The MC should ensure the supply of safe drinking water to residents. The city must have a proper drainage system. —Jaswinder Kumar, PhD student at PAU 

Water supply, sewerage disposal, rainwater harvesting, garbage disposal system must be updated immediately as per the Smart City standards. In our opinion, full future planning and implementation must be under a single agency such as Ludhiana Smart City Limited rather than so many agencies including MC, GLADA, Improvement trust, etc., as coordination becomes a problem within so many departments of the government. The buildings and other bylaws should be strictly implemented here. —Sanjay Goel, Chairman-IIA, Punjab Chapter

The government should ensure  all basic amenities. The MC should carry out special drives against encroachments and illegal constructions across the city. Many projects are hanging fire due to the shortage of funds. The civic body should take steps to improve its financial condition. There is an urgent need for redressal of issues such as choked sewers and contaminated water supply. Storm drains should be laid in the city. The process for the approval of building plans and “no objection certificate” should be made easy. —Col JS Brar (retd), BRS Nagar

(As told to Harshraj Singh)