Digging, incomplete surface water project add to Jalandhar's pollution woes

Heavy pollutants in the air last night again left city residents sleepless, with many complaining of throat irritation, persistent cough, and a burning sensation in the eyes. While stubble burning has seen a nearly 34 per cent decline in Jalandhar compared to last year, the toxic “parali” fires are not the only culprit. Adding to the choking smog is another overlooked source — construction waste. Clouds of smoke rising from burning debris have worsened the air quality, turning city streets into pockets of pollution.

The city recorded its highest AQI of the past week at 328 on the night of November 10. Although the AQI on November 11 showed a slight improvement, residents continued to report discomfort after dusk due to poor air quality. At the time of filing this report, Jalandhar’s AQI stood at a maximum of 294, indicating that pollution levels remain in the ‘very poor’ category.

While stubble fires primarily impact rural areas, urban pollution has its own culprit — construction waste. Every day, tonnes of rubble, soil, cement, and mud mounds are dumped on city roads. Although district administrations have formed task forces to curb farm fires for reducing stubble burning cases, there is no mechanism to hold anyone accountable for pollution caused by “unplanned development.”

The smoke and dust clouds gathering due to the illegal digging/repair/construction work do not invite any FIR or even a notice. Nor does anyone face a penalty for leaving roads dust-ridden and messy in the name of development projects. Dozens of city stretches have been marred by unplanned digging/repair work, especially the surface water project. Picturesque stretches that were once tree-lined havens have now turned into dusty wastelands, especially due to the surface water project.

Dozens of areas where residents bear the brunt, include Nakodar Road, Manbro Chowk road stretch, Guru Ravidas Chowk Road, Gurunankpura to Chowgitti Road, Industrial Area Road, Road near Model Town cremation ground, Pathankot Chowk, etc.

Commuters at Manbro Chowk, Kapurthala Chowk, and Nakodar Chowk wade through clouds of dust daily, making even short commutes a nightmare.

Environment activist Tejaswi Minhas said, “My children and I are unwell due to the high pollution in the city. The AQI has been very poor for days. For how many days can one shut themselves inside homes with an air purifier. For weeks now, there is no improvement in the air quality. Breathing has become difficult in Jalandhar. While stubble fires invite FIRs, there is no action against officials who have left the city defaced for months in the name of projects. A single pollution meter cannot capture disparities across areas — some are far worse than others.”

Manpreet Kaur, who travels through the Manbro Chowk stretch daily, says, “We used to love this road for its beauty. It’s an eyesore now - a dusty potholed nightmare. No one wants to come here. A poor street vendor sprinkles water to settle dust and keep his stall running. What is the MC doing? Don’t officials know that the mess is of their own making?”