Monsoon’s here, but Ludhiana city isn’t ready

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 25

The monsoon is round the corner but choked road gullies in various areas and waste accumulated in some old drains are not cleaned yet.

In a number of streets, road gullies are unavailable. Waterlogging was witnessed in many parts of the city during the rainy season in 2019.

The existing sewer system in various areas often remains choked. Around 89 per cent of the city areas lack storm sewer system. The civic body had earlier planned the installation of a storm sewer system in the city around eight years ago but the project could not see the light of the day.

Even, a few buildings in the city have ensured provision of the rain harvesting system. In the absence of a proper drainage system and due to the choked road gullies, waterlogging was witnessed in the city during rainy days, especially downpour, in the past some years.

Raised matter last year too, but to no avail, says Dang

Leader of Opposition in the MC House Harbhjan Singh Dang alleged that the road gullies were not being properly cleaned in the city.

“We had raised the matter of choked road gullies last year too but to no avail. Waterlogging was witnessed in various parts of the city in 2019. The MC should ensure proper cleaning of the road gullies this time so that the problem can be avoided in the city,” he said.

Swarandeep Singh Chahal, councillor, Ward Number 50, said the civic body had not cleaned the road gullies nor replaced the broken covers of some of the gullies.

“Major waterlogging is witnessed at Dholewal Chowk every year during the rainy season but no concrete measures have been taken to resolve the issue,” he said.

A huge amount of garbage has been collected in a nullah near Bhadaur House, here. It seems that the drain has not been cleaned for a long time. Even a Congress leader has raised questions over the working of the MC, Ludhiana. A Congress leader and former councillor, Parmdiner Mehta, said the nullah which was meant to drain out rainwater from old city areas had been flooded with solid waste near Bhadaur House.

“The MC should ensure cleaning of the complete nullah at the earliest to avoid waterlogging in the old city areas. Besides, the cleaning of road gullies should be ensured,” he added.

On the other hand, MC officials claimed that road gullies in the city had been cleaned while the work to clean the drains was underway.

They claimed that the road gullies were being cleaned for the second time now.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said the road gullies were being cleaned properly in the city. The Buddha Nullah and other drains in the city were also being cleaned in view of the coming rainy season. Moreover, the points from where the Buddha Nullah had overflowed in the past have already been cleaned.

Sandhu said however, the work was underway to clean the old drain which passes from near Bhadaur House and Damoria Bridge.

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