Senseless digging: Public money goes down drain

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 15

Commuters are a harried lot as a portion of link road connecting Tajpur Road and Jamalpur has been dug up for laying water supply pipes. The local residents claim the road was constructed just around one and a half years ago and it was in good shape.

Roads dug up for installation of underground wires, water supply lines and sewer connections is a common sight in the city.

It was learnt that work to lay water pipes under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme is under way. An MC official said those pipes would be connected with three overhead water reservoirs to be constructed at different places.

“The road has been dug up from one side. The road was in a very good condition. Now, dust raised on the dug up portion creates troubles for commuters. It could be better if works are done with proper planning,” said Inderjit Singh, a resident of Tajpur Road.

Ludhiana AAP president Daljeet Singh Bhola said: “The public money is wasted due to a lack of proper planning for development works. Good roads are commonly damaged for the installation of underground wires or pipes. Development works should be carried out with proper planning to avoid wastage of public money.”

Sub-divisional Officer Parshotam Lal said: “The road has not been damaged. At most locations, only the roadside has been dug up to lay water pipes under the AMRUT scheme. The dug up area is filled after laying the pipes. Earlier, there was a plan to lay the pipes on Tajpur Road but it was changed later.”