MC removes construction waste from green belt

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 12

Finally, the Municipal Corporation has started removing construction waste dumped in a green belt along the canal. However, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust is yet to make efforts to clear its prime land near Canal Bridge on Pakhowal Road of debris.

In the absence of a proper construction and demolition waste management system, a number of people throw waste in green belts and vacant land in areas across the city. Today, the Municipal Corporation started a cleanliness drive on Ishmeet Singh Road. The residents have been demanding removal of waste and development of green belt areas for a ling time.

Assistant Commissioner of MC Jasdev Singh Sekhon said they were lifting the debris from the green belt on Ishmeet Singh Road. They have been conducting such cleanliness drives since he assumed charge of the health branch, he added.

Meanwhile, a chunk of prime land of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust near Sidhwan Canal on Pakhowal Road is also crying for attention as it has been turned into a waste dump. Earlier, slums were demolished to get the same piece of land vacated. This land was also used for holding a weekly vegetable mart. Later, the barbed wire fencing was installed to prevent vendors from using land for the vegetable mart. Now, big heaps of construction waste have piled up at the site.

Trust Engineer Boota Ram said they would inspect the site and take necessary action to stop the misuse of the land. He said they had installed barbed wire fencing at the site.

Indian Institute of Architects (Punjab Chapter) chairman-cum-director of Ludhiana Smart City Limited Sanjay Goel said there was a proposal to set up a plant for disposal of construction waste under the Smart City project. Once the plant is set up, the problem of construction waste would get resolved, he said.

Additional Commissioner of MC Sanyam Aggarwal could not be contacted for comment.

Similar situation near Sidhwan Canal

• A chunk of prime land of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust near Sidhwan Canal on Pakhowal Road is also crying for attention as it has been turned into a waste dump. Earlier, slums were demolished to get the same piece of land vacated. 
• This land was also used for holding a weekly vegetable mart. Later, the barbed wire fencing was installed to prevent vendors from using land for the vegetable mart. Now, big heaps of construction waste have piled up at the site.