Civic neglect runs deep across Punjab

Sangrur, known as Punjab’s “political capital” or “bastion” of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, was recently in news for wrong reasons.

Shocking images from Sangrur show a bereaved family forced to carry the body of a retired CBI officer over wooden planks due to overflowing sewage. Taking a serious cognizance of the issue, the Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Executive Officer (EO) of the Sangrur Municipal Council,

It is not only the story of just one place. The tragic episode reflects the plight of countless residents across the state living amid chronic civic neglect.

The civic rot runs deep across the state. From Zirakpur to Abohar, Amritsar to Jalandhar, overflowing drains, uncollected garbage, broken roads and water logging are routine sights. In Sangrur, where retired DSP Ranbir Singh Sidhu’s family waded through sewage water to perform his last rites, residents say sewage has been spilling onto the streets and garbage has been lying strewn in several colonies for months. The complaints to officials are often met with silence or blame-shifting between departments, they claim.

Official data reveals that the Local Government Department is yet to fully utilise the capacity of the existing 132 sewage treatment plants (STP) in the state. Of the total 2,128 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage generated in 166 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state, only around 1,786 MLD of sewage is being treated at 132 STPs. The remaining sewage is being discharged into nearby drains and other water bodies. A similar sorry state of affairs exists on the solid waste management front. As per the latest official data, the state generated a total of 4,376 tonnes per day (TPD) of solid waste. Of this, only 25200 TPD was being processed.

In Ludhiana, the state’s industrial hub, heaps of garbage pile up along roads and are often burnt, while the Buddha Nullah continues to spew toxicity into the Sutlej despite years of promises and a huge money spent. In Bathinda, residents keep staging protests over four to five feet of rainwater stagnating in streets during the rainy season every year. “Every monsoon, our streets turn into lakes. We pay taxes but get nothing in return,” said Rakesh Garg, a Bathinda resident.

The situation is equally grim in Muktsar, the district headquarter town of the home district of two former Chief Ministers – Parkash Singh Badal of the SAD and Harcharan Singh Brar of the Congress. Here sewage often overflows onto the streets, and in many parts of the town, residents get drinking water mixed with sewage. However, the incumbent Chief Minister has recently laid the foundation stone for new sewerage and water supply projects. The uncovered manholes are another major issue to be addressed.

The situation is similar in the border district of Fazilka, where sanitation workers complain of irregular salaries and a lack of basic equipment. The municipal councils often cite shortages of funds and manpower, while residents bear the brunt of inefficiency. Non-functional streetlights, especially during the winter, are also a major concern.

Experts say the decay runs deeper than administrative lapses. Civic bodies are burdened by political interference and financial mismanagement, they claim. “Urban governance in the state has become synonymous with passing the buck. Development projects are often announced, but execution is painfully slow,” says Dharam Chand, an elderly resident of Moga, who retired from a municipal council.

While the state government promises better basic facilities and urban life, the reality is very different. The image of a family carrying a body through sewage is not just shameful for one city – it reflects the decay of civic governance in the state.

The Human Rights Commission’s intervention offers a ray of hope, but unless accountability is fixed, such heart-wrenching scenes will continue. The people of Punjab deserve clean streets, working drains and responsive civic governance, not merely apologies issued after public outrage.

The Sangrur episode is a reminder that civic failure affects every citizen – rich or poor. The state needs to urgently improve its basic infrastructure before such tragedies become a routine.