Monsoon preparations: Choked sewers, road gullies yet to be cleaned

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 24

To ensure cleaning of road gullies, drains and sewer lines in view of the rainy season, the deadline is June 30. However, choked sewer lines and road gullies in a number of areas are yet to be cleaned while waste is still getting accumulated in different drains.

Drainage pipes not repaired so far

Like the previous year, road gullies on Lakkar Bridge, Elevated Road and in several areas are still lying choked. Defunct drainage pipes of the Elevated Road (Jagraon Bridge towards the Jalandhar bypass) have not been repaired or replaced this year too..

Like the previous year, road gullies on Lakkar Bridge, Elevated Road and in several areas are still lying choked. Defunct drainage pipes of the Elevated Road (Jagraon Bridge towards the Jalandhar bypass) have not been repaired or replaced this year too.

The MC claimed to have conducted cleaning of all drains but huge waste is still being dumped in a drain near the Bhadaur House and others. Residents want the MC to take timely measures to complete the work at the earliest.

Overflowing sewers

The problem of choked and overflowing sewers in several parts of the city was yet to be resolved. The MC had spent a huge amount on upgrading the sewer system on Giaspura Road and then the road was reconstructed. Now, the sewers are overflowing again on Giaspura Road here. RK Yadav of the Yadav Ahir Mahasabha said: “It is difficult to pass through the stretch due to the accumulated sewage on the road. If required steps are not taken we will be forced to suffer more during rainy days.”

The residents complained that overflowing sewers are a regular affair in Dhandari Khurd and nearby areas too. Sukhwinder Singh of Guru Ravidas Ji Youth Sports and Welfare Club said: “The sewer overflow near my house at Dhandari Khurd every morning. We have raised the matter many times but to no avail.”

Lack of storm water drainage system

The stormwater drainage system is unavailable in around 89 per cent areas of the city and chances of waterlogging could not be ignored, especially in low-lying areas. MC officials said they were focusing on reducing waterlogging time in the low-lying areas.

Notably, the MC is carrying out the work to resume the functioning of an old drain near Dukhniwaran Sahib Gurdwara to avoid chronic waterlogging near Dholewal Chowk, Gill Chowk and nearby areas. Besides, the MC is installing a stormwater drainage line on Old GT Road near Clock Tower.

Ongoing projects may increase woes

As work on major projects, including ROB and RUBs on Pakhowal Road, Smart Street Road project on Malhar Road (under the Smart City mission), NHAI’s Elevated Road project on Ferozepur Road and MC’s stormwater drainage project near the Clock Tower are underway, commuters may face more inconvenience during this rainy season.

Shopkeepers said the storm water drainage project near Clock Tower must be completed on a timely basis and then reconstruct the stretch wherein pipes were laid to avoid trouble for commuters. But, an official said the stretch near Clock Tower could not be reconstructed as of now.

Arvind Sharma, a resident, said: “The MC has not even carpeted the stretch from Pakhowal Road towards Ishmeet Singh Road despite the fact that the issue was raised by me. Only gravels were laid on the road due to which chances of mishaps are high.”

Service lanes at some points on Ferozepur Road are also not ready. On Thursday, water accumulated even after a short spell of rain on Ferozepur Road near Aggar Nagar. Rajesh Gupta of Social Reformers, an NGO, said: “It is the responsibility of the MC and other departments concerned to take necessary measures so that the public don’t face any problem.”

Act against waterlogging at underpasses: Residents

The residents have also sought from the MC, GLADA and PWD to take timely steps to avoid water accumulation at underpasses in their respective jurisdiction. Waterlogging was witnessed commonly at Southern bypass underpasses, Lodhi Club Road underpass and an underpass near Chand Cinema in the past. The work to clean road gullies at the Southern Bypass underpass near Verka Milk Plant was underway. However, waterlogging was witnessed again recently at the underpass along the Buddha Nullah near Chand Cinema.

90% road gullies cleaned, claims MC official

MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal had given directions to staff to make all arrangements by June 30. Superintending Engineer (SE) Rajinder Singh claimed that 90 per cent of the road gullies in the city had been cleaned and the remaining would be cleaned by the end of the month.

He said the stormwater drainage project near Clock Tower would be completed by June 30. The work on the sewer line on Gill Road was underway and once it was done, the sewer problem on Giaspura road would get resolved.

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