Ludhiana MC fails to resolve issues of waste management, illegal construction, Buddha Nullah pollution

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 25

The Municipal Corporation (MC) failed to resolve the issues related to solid waste, illegal constructions, overcharging at parking lots, dumping of untreated dairy waste into the Buddha Nullah, etc, this year too.

Commuters had to suffer because of badly broken roads. Ahead of the elections, road works are now being carried out in the winter season.

The overflowing sewage problem in Dhandari, Giaspura and several other areas remained unresolved. Waterlogging was witnessed in many parts in the monsoon season. The MC, however, laid storm water drainage pipes near Clock Tower and got an old drain operational near Dholewal to resolve waterlogging problem in these areas.

The MC inaugurated its Burj Pawat shed for around 150 head of stray cattle but it failed to make the required arrangements for hundreds of more stray cattle that still roam on city roads.

Lows

Building collapse tragedies: In April, five persons lost their lives and number of others were injured in the auto parts factory roof collapse incident at Baba Mukand Singh Nagar. The roof slab of the top floor of auto parts manufacturing unit Jasmail Singh and Sons was being lifted by using jacks without any permission from the MC.

In August, at least 10 persons, including two children, were injured when an unsafe multi-storey building of RT Woolen Mill on RK Road collapsed. The MC’s role was under scanner after these incidents.

Waste processing ignored: After private firm A2Z group terminated its services in February, the MC took no steps to ensure waste processing at its main dumping site near Kakka village. Even it failed to deal with legacy waste. In July, the PPCB imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 1.8 crore on the Ludhiana MC for violating the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The opposition parties also raised questions after the MC handed over the work for lifting garbage from secondary collections to a private firm without tendering process.

Poor show in Swachh Survekshan: With the MC failing to improve its performance, Ludhiana slipped to rank 39, out of the 48 cities (above 10 lakh population category) in the Swachh Survekshan-2021. The city ranked 7th out of 13 cities in the state. The city had ranked 34th out of 47 cities in the Swachh Survekshan-2020.

Frequent road cave-ins: Two school students (siblings) riding an Activa scooter fell into a crater as a big portion of the road caved in at Deep Nagar in October. The MC’s old brick sewerage line had got damaged there. Besides, cave-ins occurred in Phase-II of Urban Estate in Dugri, Ishmeet Singh Road, Clock Tower Road and other areas of the city this year as no lessons were learnt from the past to avert such incidents.

Controversies on Smart City Mission projects: The opposition parties raised questions over various Smart City Mission projects. The Pakhowal Road ROB/RUBs project missed the deadline. With raising questions over the project design and planning of the Smart Street project on Malhar Road, the traders blamed the authorities for reducing the width of the road, causing traffic snarls. The retrofitting of Sarabha Nagar project is still incomplete as many wires have not been laid underground.

In July, the MC’s carcass utilisation plant near Noorpur Bet could not be inaugurated due to protest by villagers.

Buddha Nullah overflowed: As the banks were not strengthened, the Buddha Nullah overflowed opposite Peeru Banda area in September as heavy rainfall lashed the city. The polluted water had flown into nearby fields. The Buddha Nullah had overflowed many times in the past but no concrete steps have been taken to avoid flooding.

Highs

Rejuvenation of Buddha Nullah: The much-awaited Rejuvenation of Buddha Nullah Project was launched this year. The Department of Local Government constituted the monitoring committee, headed by the MC chief, for the project that is to be completed within two years after launch.

Animal birth control: The new building of the MC’s Animal Birth Control Centre was opened this year. According to officials, the centre has been developed at a cost of nearly Rs 1 crore. The centre has preparation room, sterilisation room, operation theatre, 22 kennels, including six pre and 16 post-operation.

Equipment purchased for fire wing: Under the Smart City Mission, new firefighting equipment worth Rs 3.28 crore was purchased for strengthening the fire services in Ludhiana. Hi-tech equipment, including new mini fire tenders, emergency lights, life detectors, battery-operated combi tools, thermal imaging cameras, aluminium firefighting suits, etc, were purchased.

Land finalised for water treatment plant: For the upcoming 24x7 surface water supply project, the MC purchased land for setting up the water treatment plant of 580 MLD at Bilga village. The project is funded by the World Bank. The civic body has been planning the project for a long time.

Act of humanity: When kin of those persons who had succumbed to coronavirus, were either refusing or unable to perform last rites amid Covid-19 crisis this year, the Municipal Corporation’s Covid Cremation Management Cell had ensured the dignified last rites of the dead this year. A group of about 10 youngsters and MC officials performed the last rites of the deceased.

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