Swachhata a distant dream for Ward 28

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachhata hi Seva’ movement seems to be far away from parts of Ward No. 28 where residents are forced to live under hell-like conditions. The insanitary conditions in these areas have failed to attract the MC authorities’ attention to start their campaign from the sewage-flooded streets of the ward.

The Municipal Corporation has been carrying out cleanliness activities in the city since the Prime Minister launched the movement on September 15. The civic body has also campaigned in a number of already cleaned areas wherein some politicians were seen holding brooms just to get their pictures clicked. The campaign is supposed to continue till Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

Residents of various parts of Ward No. 28 have staged protests multiple times, but to no avail. They blamed the civic body authorities for carrying out swachhata campaign in the posh areas which are already cleaned.

A group of residents at Prem Nagar questioned when the civic body would ensure sanitation in the area. “We also pay taxes but basic amenities are still like a distant dream here. Overflowing sewage has caused unhygienic conditions in the area. No awareness campaigns on cleanliness are being conducted,” they said.

Sucha Singh of Dhandari Khurd said: “The MC had assured that they would find a solution to the problem of overflowing sewage last month. But, nothing was done to provide any relief to the people. Litter flows on the streets flooded with sewage. The Swachh Bharat campaign was never carried out in our area. We have staged multiple protests to wake up the civic body, but to no avail.”

Councillor from Ward No. 28 Paramjeet Singh said: “The swachhata movement is far away from our areas as the cleanliness drives are being carried out in developed areas, such as BRS Nagar and others. The insanitary conditions have spread in the ward due to overflowing sewage. The MC employees visit the area but they don’t have required equipment to conduct work. If any machine is made available, there is no arrangement for fuel. The state government is responsible for poor conditions in the ward.”

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu could not be contacted for his comment.