100 mm rainfall leaves city roads waterlogged

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 18

More than 100 mm rainfall on Saturday night left city roads waterlogged. Besides, motors installed to dispose of rainwater started late, leading to a blockage in sewer lines. This also aggravated the problem in some areas of the city.

Power House Road, Veer Colony, Amrik Singh Road, Goniana Road near Three Cinemas, Ganesha Basti, Sirki Bazaar, Bhatti road and Vasant Bihar faced the waterlogging problem.

However, officials of the civic body, Sewerage Board, Triveni Company and Congressmen worked overnight to ensure that rainwater is disposed of from low-lying areas by Sunday morning.

MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said, “We were fully prepared to tackle with any the situation emerging due to rain. On Saturday morning, we stored rainwater in sewers and ponds in three hours of rain.”

Moreover, 10 teams are keeping a close watch on the sludge carrier and they are constantly in touch with them, he said. The MC Commissioner said he was also monitoring the water level so that breach did not take place there. Shergill said, “After accumulation of rainwater, we directed sanitation workers to immediately clean roads so that garbage doesn’t enter the sewer lines and they get blocked.”

“A 75 hp motor started late at Alam Basti, but it was not any issue as two 20 hp and 30 hp motors were working there. The 75 hp motor was not able to start because it needs a 2 hp motor to get it started, which is not there,” he added.

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal posted a status on his social media account stating “I would like to thank all Congress workers, Municipal Corporation staff, Triveni employees for doing a good job and working all night to clear main areas of rainwater. Some areas are left with some water and we are working on it. FM Punjab Manpreet Badal is personally monitoring the situation with the MC Commissioner, the DC and all office-bearers and workers of the Bathinda Congress.”