The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, facing financial strain, has proposed purchasing six long-boom Poclain excavation machines for ₹4.6 crore to clean the Buddha Dariya river, even as its public transit fleet is being auctioned to settle legal debts. The proposal, submitted to the Finance and Contracts Committee, has drawn sharp criticism from residents and internal officials who argue that the river cleanup has yielded no visible results and that the civic body lacks essential supporting equipment.
Expensive machinery purchase amid financial crisis
The corporation currently manages a 14-kilometer urban stretch of the heavily polluted Buddha Dariya using four owned excavators and two rented machines. The new purchase would add six more machines, but critics claim the river has become a lucrative cash cow for officials who continue to buy heavy machinery without the trucks needed to haul away dredged waste.
The spending comes immediately after the civic body lost a legal dispute and failed to deposit court-ordered money, forcing the upcoming auction of 120 city buses. This has raised questions about the corporation's financial priorities.
Officials defend purchase, but internal concerns persist
Officials defended the new purchase by citing recommendations from Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, arguing that buying the machinery is more cost-effective than long-term rentals. However, internal officials and residents have questioned the logic of the acquisition.
An operations department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the civic body lacked the necessary tipper trucks to transport the dredged waste. Each excavation machine requires up to 10 trucks to function effectively. The corporation shares just 35 trucks across all its municipal branches, meaning dredged toxic sludge is routinely left stranded on the riverbanks.
Massive spending, minimal results
The purchase is the latest in a series of expensive interventions, including a broader ₹650 crore rejuvenation project focused on upgrading sewage and effluent treatment plants. Despite the massive outlays, residents say the waterway remains pitch-black and foul-smelling.
Executive Engineer Baljinder Singh said the proposal followed state government guidelines, leaving the final decision to the finance committee. He did not comment on the lack of tipper trucks.
Residents cry foul
“The Buddha Dariya has simply become a source of income for the authorities,” Chander Nagar resident Subhash Sharma said. “They keep spending on things that fail to clean it, just to fill their pockets.”
The corporation's ongoing financial troubles and the apparent disconnect between spending and outcomes have fueled public anger. The auction of 120 city buses, set to proceed due to unpaid legal dues, underscores the depth of the crisis.
