Dhandari Khurd residents protest as sewage overflows again

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 12

With the Municipal Corporation (MC) failing to find out a solution to choked sewers in Dhandari Khurd, residents sat on hunger strike outside Dashmesh dyeing unit.

They blamed the dyeing unit staff for allegedly releasing waste water into the MC’s sewer with high pressure, causing sewers to choke in the village.

The streets of Dhandari Khurd remained flooded due to overflowing sewage on Sunday, too, forcing residents to protest again.

Three residents including Sukhwinder Singh (26), Saurav Sharma (27) and Swaran Singh (42) sat on hunger strike in the morning. Besides, many villagers including women and elderly also sat on dharna outside the dyeing unit to mark their protest. They demanded from the administration to shut down the dyeing unit.

They had staged a protest on August 1. After getting assurance from MC Commissioner Kanwalpreet Brar that their problem would be resolved, they had ended their agitation. The MC had then deployed staff to clear choked sewers, but to no avail.

Residents are still forced to pass through accumulated sewage in the streets. Many protesters claimed that they have suffered from foot infection, as they pass through accumulated water in routine, but the administration was in deep slumber.

“MC authorities had promised to station super suction machines for cleaning sewers, but nothing has been done. The situation has worsened in the area. People are catching infection. Dashmesh Dyeing unit is responsible for it and should be closed. The area councillor had visited when we protested last time, but he did not pay any further attention,” said Sukhwinder Singh, who sat on hunger strike.

A group of residents said they have been suffering for the past several months. “Our MP and MLA never paid any attention towards the problems being faced us. The MC authorities also ignored our area. Where should we go now?” protesting residents asked.

Neelam, an area resident, said: “The officials should come and take a round of our village. They should live here to realise how we live under insanitary conditions. The sewage overflows outside our houses. Students too pass through dirty water in routine. If any epidemic takes place, the MC and the district administration will be responsible for it.”

Residents sat on hunger strike around 7 am on Sunday, while the MC officials reached there after 1 pm. The dyeing unit staff denied the allegations levelled by the protesters. They claimed that they have not violated any norm.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said: “The residents never complained about the overflowing sewage. We will take necessary steps in this regard.” MC Commissioner Kanwalpreet Brar said: “It will take some time to resolve the chronic problem of overflowing sewage. The protesters demanded to close the dyeing unit, but it is not fair. Our officials are making efforts to sort out the issue.”

The residents ended their protest in the evening after getting assurance from the MC’s senior officials.