Choked sewers, contaminated water remain main issues

Ludhiana: Once again the issues of overflowing sewers and contaminated water supply were raised during the House meeting that had continued for five hours today. Many councillors of the SAD, the BJP, the Lok Insaaf Party and even of the Congress raised questions over the defunct sewer system in their wards. 

To register her protest against the civic body for ignoring the issues facing the residents of Ward No. 31, its councillor (BJP) Sonia Sharma came her mouth covered with black cloth. She brought a bottle of contaminated water at the House meeting.

Akali DAL councillor from Ward No. 2 Gurmail Singh alleged that there were major problems of contaminated water supply and choked sewers in his ward. People are falling ill due to contaminated water supply but their issues are being ignored by the MC. He even alleged unnecessary interference by MLA Sanjay Talwar.

Akali councillor from Ward No. 30 Jaspal Singh Giaspura raised the issue of poor condition of the main Giaspura Road and overflowing sewage. No patchwork has been carried out to repair potholes as big as 3 foot long on the road for the past one year, he added. 

Lok Insaaf Party councillor from Ward No. 36 Harvinder Singh Kaler said: “When will we conduct discussions on other issues as the civic body had failed to solve the problems of overflowing sewers and contaminated water supply. The MC must purchase the adequate number of machines to ensure cleaning of choked sewers.”

Meanwhile, Congress councillors exchanged heated arguments with Kaler on the issue of unavailability of carts for lifting garbage.

Superintending Engineer Rajinder Singh told that the House members that sewer lines were not levelled at some locations and waste from "vehras" was dumped in the sewers in the affected areas. Meanwhile, councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu demanded a check on violations at "vehras". Councillor Sunny Bhalla demanded that illegal sewer connections should be snapped if the property owners failed to get them regularised. 

Councillor Ashwani Sharma demanded that the MC should make a plan for the installation of new water supply pipes to deal with the problem of contaminated water supply. 

Officials ignore phone calls

A number of councillors accused the MC officials of not attending to their phone calls. BJP councillor from Ward No. 8 Yashpal Chaudhary said even senior officials didn’t attend to their phone calls. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu asked the officials to attend to the phone calls of all councillors, otherwise MC House would pass a resolution to dismiss the erring officials.

Officer lobby ignores directions: Mayor

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said the officer lobby ignored his directions for taking necessary measures to resolve issues. The Opposition councillors asked the Mayor to take action against such officials who ignored his instructions.

SAD demands action against encroachments

Leader of the Opposition and SAD councillor Harbhajan Singh Dang demanded action against encroachments in the Model Town area and Ishmeet Singh Road. A few councillors urged House to set up street vending zones at the earliest. Councillor Hari Singh Brar demanded that ID cards be issued to the street vendors.

Conduct inquiry before FIR, says Neetu

Congress Councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu urged House to send a proposal to the government that no FIR should be registered against any councillor without inquiry.