Food street plan on Sidhwan Canal runs into fresh trouble

The proposed food vending zone beneath the Sidhwan Canal flyover has once again stirred controversy, with the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) pushing for the Rs 5-crore project even as the Irrigation Department has refused its no-objection certificate (NOC). Activists have warned of ecological harm, while food vendors have expressed mixed opinions over the plan.

Officials from the Irrigation Department have categorically stated that no construction or commercial activity can be allowed along the protected canal stretch, citing safety concerns and zoning violations. They maintained that the proposal breaches canal safety norms, obstructs routine maintenance, and contravenes state rules mandating a 30-metre green buffer on either side of major canals. The MCL, however, has requested the department to reconsider its decision.

The project, floated through tenders earlier this month, envisages 42 smart shops, parking facilities, public conveniences, and other amenities. But activists from the Public Action Committee (PAC) have demanded its immediate cancellation, warning of serious environmental consequences. PAC member Kapil Arora said, “The site lies barely five metres from the canal’s water flow. In 2018, a similar project was abandoned because authorities failed to secure NOCs and ignored parking requirements. The same mistakes are being repeated.”

Environmentalist Kuldeep Khaira added that the plan violates National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines as well as the city’s Master Plan. “Instead of developing greenbelts, the municipal corporation has concretised the entire stretch beneath the flyover. Allowing commercial permits here would be a direct violation of zoning rules,” he observed.

Food vendors, however, have voiced a slightly different view. “We welcome the idea of a designated vending zone, as it could provide proper facilities and reduce harassment from officials,” said Ramesh Kumar, a street vendor operating near the canal. “But if the location is unsafe or illegal, the government should identify an alternative site instead of scrapping the project entirely.”

Dr Amandeep Singh Bains further cautioned that pollution from food stalls could damage vertical gardens on the flyover piers and disturb residents using the adjoining greenbelt. Activists also pointed out that the canal, already stressed by garbage dumping and untreated waste, risked further contamination, threatening aquatic life and public health.

The PAC has threatened to approach the NGT if the project moves forward. For Ludhiana, the row reflects a wider conflict between urban development aspirations, ecological safeguards, and the livelihoods of vendors seeking secure working spaces.