LIT prime land or dumping ground?

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 2

A prime chunk of land reserved for Atal Apartments has turned into a garbage dumping point once again.

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) had launched its Atal Apartments residential scheme with much fanfare in 2016, but it was cancelled around three months ago after getting a tepid response. Under the project, 11-storeyed green residential complex was to be constructed in 8.80 acre land near Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar on the Pakhowal Road. Now, garbage heaps can be seen at one side of the land.

When area residents had earlier complained about the garbage, the authorities concerned carried out a cleanliness drive in 2016. However, no requisite steps were taken to maintain hygienic conditions there. To stop rehri-phari and vegetable market on its land, LIT displayed a notice that the land can’t be used for commercial purpose.

Talwinder Singh, a resident of SKS Nagar, said: “Since the land is lying vacant and the proposed project is getting delayed, LIT should take steps to make a playground here so that children and youngsters can play. Garbage is openly dumped here, inviting stray cattle.”

“The area should be kept neat and clean. Nobody should be allowed to dump garbage here. People used to come here for walks, but foul smell emanating from the garbage irks them. The authorities should take necessary steps in this regard,” said Bhavjot Singh Mand, a resident of SBS Nagar.

The land for the project was acquired 17 years ago, but the scheme for flats was launched in September 2016. As the construction of flats was being delayed, the applicants had sought their money and cancellation of the scheme from the government. A LIT official said they were planning to reintroduce the scheme by making some changes in the plan. LIT Superintending Engineer Sat Bhushan Sachdeva said: “We will take requisite steps to get the area cleaned. We have also installed a caution board that rehri-phari is not allowed here.”