Politics on, no relief from stinking nullah water

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 22

With residents suffering a lot due to accumulation of polluted water of Buddha Nullah in streets and houses in many parts of the city, politics is high on the issue now.

With the Sutlej swelling in the past five days, the polluted Buddha Nullah, which merges into the river near Walipur Kalan, also started overflowing, flooding streets and homes in areas, including Shivpuri, Dhoka Mohalla, New Kundapuri and Dharampura.

Many shops have not been opened and children are not going to schools since nullah water flooded these areas, the infuriated residents told politicians who visited Shivpuri today.

The residents blamed the government, district administration and the MC for ignoring the overflowing of sewers caused by the swollen nullah. The disposal points (from where sewage is discharged) are not functioning properly due to the rising level of water in the nullah.

A gym owner, Geeta, said: “Polluted water entered our gym. The machines are getting damaged due to stinking water. Nobody is paying attentions towards the plight of the area residents. There are high chances of outbreak of a disease here.”

Before the visit of former leader of the opposition in Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Congress MLA from Ludhiana North Rakesh Pandey and some local leaders of the BJP visited Shivpuri.

Natural calamity: Pandey

When Pandey reached the area, some persons raised slogans against the Congress-led state government and the MC. Heated arguments were also exchanged between Congress men and BJP leaders.

Pandey said Buddha Nullah had risen due to natural calamity and sewers were overflowing in low-lying areas. The civic body was taking steps to deal with the problem.

Man-made disaster: Khaira

Slamming the state government, Khaira said it was not a natural calamity but a man-made disaster. He said the MC and the administration had not taken preventive measures despite knowing that people suffered due to nullah every year. The Akali and Congress governments had made tall claims but nothing was done in reality, he said.

Where is Ludhiana MP?

A few residents questioned where MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was as he had not visited the affected areas of Shivpuri, Dharampura, New Kundanpuri and Dhoka Mohalla. When contacted, Bittu said: “I have talked to the DC regarding the rising water level in Buddha Nullah. The problem will be resolved at the earliest as nullah water is receding. I will meet the Union Jal Shakti Minister on Friday for early redressal of the nullah problem. After the meeting, I will also visit the city areas.”