Sewage flows into park, MC, AIT pass the buck

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13

Residents of Ranjit Avenue are fuming over the insanitary state of Beant Singh Park. They say sewage flows into the park for over a week where even foreigners turn up as prominent hotels are situated nearby. The Municipal Corporation (MC) appears to have turned a blind eye to it, they say.

People have brought the matter into the knowledge of the MC authorities as well as the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) but to no avail.

Now, noted environmentalist PS Bhatty, who resides in Ranjit Avenue, has shot off a area, PS Bhatty has shot off a letter to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, seeking his intervention. He said when the MC was apprised about it, they asked residents to approach the AIT, but when officials of the AIT were contacted, they claimed that the MC was responsible for that area.

He said a complaint twice regarding blockage of sewer and spilling of dirty water into the park was sent to MC authorities under Swachh Bharat campaign, but the complaint was rejected claiming that the issue does not falls under the ambit of the MC health branch. Similar complaint was also sent to the superintending engineers of the AIT as well as the civic body through social networking sites.

“With our volunteers, we found that the whole line is blocked and without machines it is not possible to clear the blockage. The stink continues to disturb the morning walkers,” he said.

MC Commissioner Sonali Giri said, “The Municipal Corporation has written to the Amritsar Improvement Trust to sort out the problem as the area falls under their jurisdiction. We have done what we can.what we can.” The Deputy Commissioner said he would look into the matter.