Choked sewers near Golden Temple leave locals, shopkeepers fuming
Choked sewers in several streets and roads near the Golden Temple have become a nightmare for residents and shopkeepers. Among the affected areas is Bazaar Kathian Wala, which is situated behind the Akal Takht. The rise in the number of hotels in the area has largely contributed to the problem.
The streets are continuously filled with sewage, causing discomfort to the locals and raising health concerns among them. The putrid smell and insanitary conditions have made it challenging for businesses to operate, and residents are forced to navigate through the filthy streets.
The situation is a consequence of inadequate drainage infrastructure, which is unable to cope with the increased wastewater generated by the growing number of hotels in the area.
“We have been crying for past several years that the newly constructed illegal hotels would burden the infrastructure in the walled city. More than 1,000 hotels have been illegally built in the area with the connivance of MC officials. Now the sewer lines are overburdened as each hotel has at least 50 occupants,” said Sham Lal , a shopkeeper in Kathian Wala Bazaar.
“The local authorities must take immediate action to upgrade the sewerage to ensure the regular maintenance of sewer lines in order to prevent such incidents in future,” he added.
“The residents and shopkeepers of Bazaar Kathian Wala and surrounding areas deserve a cleaner and healthier environment, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to provide them with the necessary infrastructure and services,” said a visitor, Jasdeep Singh.
A tea seller in the market said, “The street is filled with the stinky sewage, who will sit here and have tea. The MC has failed to provide a solution to our problem and our business have been ruined. The sewer lines should be replaced.”