Heaps of garbage set afire at vegetable market; MC, Mandi Board pass buck

A thick cloud of smoke engulfed Bahadur-Ke Road early on Tuesday morning after tonnes of garbage was allegedly set ablaze on the premises of the Wholesale Vegetable Market. The incident raised serious concerns about waste management and air quality in the area.

The Punjab Mandi Board and the Municipal Corporation (MC) are passing the buck, with neither side owning up to the fire or the festering waste. Amid the blame game, accountability remains elusive.

The Public Action Committee (PAC), led by Er Kapil Dev, Dr Amardeep Bains and Kuldeep Singh Khaira, have shot a formal complaint to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Deputy Commissioner. The PAC members have accused officials of the Punjab Mandi Board and the Municipal Corporation of collusion in illegal dumping and burning of waste. The incident, they claimed, had triggered severe environmental damage and health concerns for residents in surrounding localities.

“It is not just negligence but a repeated violation of environmental laws and Supreme Court directives,” said Er Kapil Dev.

“Despite the matter being subjudice before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the authorities continue to ignore the law and public health,” he said.

According to the complaint, the fire broke out in the wee hours and frantic residents attempted to contact the fire brigade as smoke spread across the area. The complainants allege that the corporation and the Mandi Board had failed to comply with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, which prohibits open burning of waste.

Dr Bains emphasised the urgency of the situation. “We’ve sent photographic and video evidence with GPS coordinates to the PPCB Chief Engineer and other officials. The garbage mound is still smouldering, and the stench is unbearable. It is a clear case for environmental compensation and punitive action,” he said.

The complaint also mentions previous NGT directions requiring the Municipal Commissioner to appear virtually in the ongoing case. However, the complainants argue that no meaningful action had been taken to clear the illegal dump or prevent further fires.

Kuldeep Singh Khaira said: “The city’s air quality is already compromised. Such blatant disregard for environmental norms is unacceptable. We demand accountability and immediate remediation.”

The committee has urged the authorities to impose penalties under the SWM Rules, 2016, and environmental laws and to ensure proper waste processing on the mandi premises. The incident has reignited concerns over Ludhiana’s chronic waste management failures and the need for systemic reforms.

What market committee official says

Market committee secretary Harinder Gill said he got information about the fire at the vegetable market and rushed to the spot. “The blaze was brought under control using water,” he said.

“The exact cause of the fire is still unclear. It’s yet to be determined whether the garbage was deliberately set ablaze or if it was an accident. A large amount of waste has accumulated around the Municipal Corporation’s compactor site and we are issuing a notice to them, directing immediate clearance of the area,” he said.

Refuse will be cleared within week: MC chief

Municipal Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said: “It is difficult to ascertain the reason behind the fire at this stage. However, the garbage around the compactor site will be cleared within a week.”