MC accused of turning a blind eye

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 8

Residents of Gill Colony in Ward No. 31 are suffering due to contaminated water supply in their area. Besides, residents at Giaspura flats are suffering due to water shortage after a tube-well stopped functioning.

BJP Councillor from Ward No. 31 Sonia Sharma blamed the MC officials for turning a blind eye towards these issues in the ward. She also sat on dharna at MC Commissioner’s Office recently, alleging that the issues of the ward were not being redressed.

Sonia said the water being supplied at Gill Colony was stinking due to contamination. On Sunday, her husband Pankaj Sharma drove the tractor to bring a water tanker to Gill Colony, as no help was allegedly provided by the MC.

“We have complained about the problem several times, but the officials don’t pay heed to our complaints. Residents are suffering as the MC has taken no action on the complaint,” Sonia alleged.

Meanwhile, residents at Giaspura flats complained about water shortage and choked sewers. “The civic body should take steps to ensure proper supply of water, as we are suffering. Besides, the authorities should also pay attention towards choked sewers,” said Guddu, a resident.

MC’s Executive Engineer Harmesh Lal said they received the information about defunct tube-well yesterday. “The work is under way to get the tube-well repaired at Giaspura flats,” he said.

Denying the allegations, he said: “Nobody ignored any complaint regarding contaminated water supply. We have resolved the problem of contaminated water supply at Gill Colony.”

Ward No. 28 residents’ grouse — overflowing sewage 

The irresponsible behavior of the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities has left residents of Ishwar Nagar, Jagdish Colony and adjoining areas in Ward Number 28 harried, as they are suffering from insanitary conditions in routine.  The sewage keeps overflowing and the situation has worsened in these areas after the arrival of monsoon. Earlier, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu had said that sewers would be cleaned with super-suction machines, but residents have not got any relief from choked sewers. Residents have warned the authorities that if any disease outbreak takes place, the MC would be responsible for it. Mohammad Shehzad Ansari, an area resident, said: “The overflowing sewage is a major problem at Ishwar Colony, Jagdish Colony and Prem Nagar, but the MC authorities have failed to pay any attention. Many people can’t even step out of their houses due to accumulated sewage. Our problem is being ignored for a long time.” Earlier, residents of these affected areas located near Dhandari Khurd had reportedly blocked traffic. However, the MC had swung into action only after their protest.  “The MC Commissioner should himself visit our area as the officials concerned don’t pay any attention. We are helpless as even elected representatives have failed to find out any solution to our problem,” said Rajesh Kumar of Ishwar Colony. A group of residents said they would start an agitation, if the MC doesn’t take necessary measures to provide relief from choked sewers. Councillor from Ward Number 28 Paramjit Singh said: “There are a large number of vehras and the sewer pipes in these areas are small. Not only this, there is a shortage of sewer men in the ward and choked sewers is another major problem. MC officials are cooperative and sewer men are deployed to clean sewers. There is a dire need to clean the sewer lines with super-suction machines. I have also spoken to the Mayor and officials concerned in this regard.” “Residents are also responsible as solid waste and polythene bags are dumped into the sewer line, due to which it generally remains choked,” he said. MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh was not available for comments. — Harshraj Singh