Roadside dumps harry commuters

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 12

The stretch connecting Pakhowal Road and Dugri Road, once clean and green, has now become the new victim of the MC apathy, due to garbage dumped at several points.

Not only the beauty of this belt is hampered but also the foul smell from garbage has become a nuisance for residents nearby and commuters.

The green area of the road is now quickly turning into convenient dumping ground. While the city already has few green belts left, the greenery on this road now succumbing to the garbage and littering.

Not only it has turned into an ugly site but also the several parts of the road stink terribly.

“When one enters the road from Dugri, the road stinks terribly where the discarded construction debris along with garbage lie dumped,” said Ramandeep, a resident.

“I used to take this road while going to work earlier, but now, I cannot, because of the stink,” he said.

The schoolgoing are one of the worst sufferers. “We had written to the MC to not to allow garbage collecting unit, or garbage compactor here because that site is just in front of the school, just across the road. But despite that, the compactor was set up here. And now, garbage is being allowed to pile up on the other side of the road nearby. It has made it difficult for the children and teachers to attend school, who have to bear the smell,” said a school staff member of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School.

Even commuters have to suffer in the area, as traffic lights are in front of the bridge. “Because of the stink emanating from both the sides, it is difficult to wait at the traffic lights also,” he said.

Residents who are living alongside the road in the Model Town Extension area are also suffering. “This was one of the cleanest roads, but because of the apathy of the authorities, even this road has not been spared as you can see the ugly heaps of the garbage lined along the road,” said Udit, a resident of the area. “It is high time now. The MC should wake up and do something about this road,” he said.

The MC Commissioner, Jaskiran Singh, when asked, he said, people have started throwing garbage along with debris, but it would be cleared soon. “It is already in my notice, and the garbage will be cleared in a couple of days,” he said.

Residentspeak 

What can you do with this garbage? This road has become like a dustbin. It has become a filthy road. The authorities must pay attention and do something about it. —Paramjit Singh        

I used to commute via this road quite often, but now I take it only if I am late for my work. The whole area stinks and is very harmful for health. This used to be a clean area along the canal and should have been further preserved and beautified, but unfortunately  there is garbage here. —Samarjeet Singh

On the one hand the authorities boast of swachhta, and cleanliness, but on the other, there are conditions like this. There is little to expect from authorities for cleaning up terribly-affected areas, when even a clean road has been allowed to become garbage-strewn. —Jagvir Singh