Patiala: Blocked sewer lines damage roads, raise stink in market

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 3

Call it Municipal Corporation (MC) employees’ inability to do the job or denying superiors’ command, the civic body has so far failed to resolve the issue of blocked sewer lines at the marketplace behind Phul Cinema in Chhoti Baradari.

Besides damaging roads, the problem that recurs every second or third month, inconveniences commuters and office-goers in the area.

Members of the Chhoti Baradari Market Development Association said they have complained to the Corporation numerous times about blocked sewer lines.

“The sewage keeps flowing from blocked sewer lines on to roads throughout the day. It raises stink, damages roads and interlocking tiles and inconveniences commuters,” they said.

Hardev Singh Balli, association president, said, “The problem has persisted for many years. We have written over six letters to the Municipal Corporation requesting the authorities that a proper solution should be worked out for blocked sewer lines.

“Outlet owners discharge ghee and oil related substances into the sewerage, which blocks lines. The Corporation sends notices to them, but fails to ensure that such substances are not discharged into sewer lines. The civic body also doesn’t take strict action against shop owners, who flout the norms,” he added.

Davinder Pal Singh, the association general secretary, said, “The small size of sewer lines in comparison to waste flow also aggravates problem. Officials at the operations and management branch of the MC today were working in 2015 also when we first complained, but the problem persists since then.”

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vineet Kumar said, “The office staff is cleaning sewer lines. They have been directed to find a proper solution to frequent blocking of sewerage. The MC will send notices to outlet owners in the area to make sure that substances that clog drains are not discharged into them. We will give them a specific time to make provisions for discarding such substances, else stringent action will follow.”

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