MC may land in trouble again over interlocking tiles

It seems there is no end to problems faced by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) in the New Year.

The last date for completing the work of replacing tiles fixed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is January 31, 2025, which is approaching near, but the majority of the work has not been done so far.

The civic body could be in trouble again if the work is not completed before the stipulated date as the complainants are now planning to initiate criminal proceedings against the MC and will again knock the doors of the NGT.

The case before the NGT was filed by Yogesh Maini and Jaskirat Singh, complaining about placement of solid impermeable interlocking tiles and cement concrete along with permeable/semi-permeable perforated tiles around trees and on pavements and roadsides by local bodies in the municipal limits of Ludhiana. The complainants have said placement of impermeable tiles that too above the road level results in waterlogging and damages to roads.

The Tribunal had disposed of the case and directed the Municipal Corporation and Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) to replace ordinary impermeable tiles with perforated ones, keeping one meter radius area around trees uncovered and making it green by planting grass or shrubs, as the case may be. The NGT had asked the authorities concerned to file a compliance report with the Registrar General of the Tribunal by January 31.

The corporation had reported to the NGT that Rs 49 lakh was allocated for replacing tiles in the Ludhiana West constituency alone and more projects were also approved. Instructions were given to field officials for the use of perforated tiles for future projects.

The LIT submitted that it had spent Rs 100 crore on laying of interlocking tiles across the city and stated that it was replacing the same near trees. However, it was not in a position to relay entire tiles due to financial constraints.

Kapil Arora, member of Public Action Committee, said only 20 per cent work of replacing tiles had been done in Ludhiana while the remaining work was pending and the deadline of January 31 was approaching near.

“The NGT has asked to keep one meter radius area uncovered around trees but at many places, it has been observed that less space is left uncovered. If the work of replacement was not completed by January 31, we will initiate criminal proceedings against the MC,” he said.