Rampura residents regret sewer project as neglect breeds misery

What began as a long-awaited development soon turned into an equally prolonged and agonising wait for repairs. The residents of Rampura village, situated on the Amritsar–Attari road, now regret lobbying for a sewerage network in the first place.

They complain that the faulty system, left unattended for more than a decade, has made life miserable. The sewerage was laid after years of demand, but its poor condition has since become a curse rather than a blessing.

As a result, Rampura’s main road – a border village opposite the Army Cantonment – remains submerged in foul water throughout the year. Despite repeated complaints to government departments, the issue has not been resolved.

“Governments come and go, but our road remains the same. We keep raising the concern with the Sarpanch, but nothing changes. Some villagers have even approached higher officials, yet no one is bothered. Is it because ours is a small village?” asks Gagandeep Kaur, a housewife whose home lies on the affected road.

Frustrated, many villagers are moving to the city to build new houses. Those who invested heavily in their village homes are now considering the same. Garbage is rarely collected, leaving roadsides strewn with refuse. Relatives urge families to relocate, as the stink and mosquitoes make daily life unbearable.

When The Tribune team visited, the air was thick with foul odour, and pedestrians waited for vehicles to pass before attempting to cross. Balpreet Singh, a resident, said the village pond, locally called Chappar, has become a dumping ground. Its squalid condition poses a serious health risk, and fears of an epidemic loom large.

“The authorities don’t realise the water is extremely unhygienic and attracts mosquitoes daily. Every year, villagers suffer fevers from insect bites. It has been more than ten years – will anyone address our concern?” he asked.

The road leads not only to homes but also to the school, Hindu temple, crematorium, and connects to the GT Road. Elderly residents and motorcyclists have slipped while navigating the waterlogged stretch. Some villagers fear contamination of household water supplies.

“I strongly urge the sewerage department to address this on priority, otherwise malaria and other fevers will rise this summer,” warned Dr Parminder Singh Dhillon, health inspector from Amritsar.

When contacted, Rampura Sarpanch Gurcharan Singh said the matter has been brought to the authorities’ notice, and repairs will be undertaken once the exact cause is identified.