90% areas lack storm sewers

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 16

The problem of waterlogging has increased manifold in the city as compared to previous years. But, the drainage system has not been upgraded accordingly.

Around 90 per cent of the city areas lack storm sewer system. Even, some of the areas where the old storm sewer system is available, it is not functioning properly.

Besides, a small number of buildings in the city have ensured provision of rainwater harvesting system.

As per sources, the MC had planned for installation of storm sewer system around seven years ago, but it could not arrange around Rs 1,500 crore for the project.

The existing sewer system gets choked at different locations whenever it rains heavily.

Kapil Arora of the Council of Engineers said, “The problem of waterlogging has increased in the city. I have not seen storm sewers in any such colony under the MC. There is a major requirement of the system in the city. Besides, the rainwater harvesting system, recharge wells should be constructed as per technique for groundwater recharging.”

“In the absence of provision of basic facilities, we can’t say it is a Smart City. The civic body should take support of societies of various areas for setting up rainwater harvesting wells. Moreover, it should avoid the practice of installing tiles on cement concrete as when it is done, water does not get recharged. Only grass paver tiles should be preferred,” he said.

Businessman Rajat Sood said, “I have been witnessing waterlogging on College Road for the past several years but no solution has been found yet. The drainage system should also be upgraded.”

MC’s superintending engineer Rajinder Singh said a plan was earlier made to get storm sewers installed in the city.

“If the storm sewer system is made available and rainwater harvesting provision is ensured in every building, the problem of waterlogging would get resolved,” he said.