The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has finally initiated desilting operations at two critical drain locations: the long-neglected covered drain at Shivaji Nagar and another vital channel passing through Dhoka Mohalla. This long-awaited move has brought substantial relief to local residents, who have been suffering from severe street flooding and indoor sewage backflow during every monsoon season due to clogged rainwater drainage systems.
Timeline and Vulnerable Areas
Civic officials have committed to completing the cleaning operations within the next 10 days, provided early rainfall does not disrupt the work. Both locations are classified as highly vulnerable chokepoints, where concrete waste, silt, and debris have severely restricted water flow. This threatens livelihoods in Shivaji Nagar, New Shivaji Nagar, Narendra Nagar, and Dharampura.
Past Failures and Current Efforts
The situation mirrors last year's failure, when administrative delays pushed desilting schedules directly into the arrival of the monsoon, leaving the work incomplete. Area councillor Manju Aggarwal stated that despite repeated official assurances and explicit intervention from the Mayor, field execution was continuously stalled on the ground.
According to Aggarwal, residents had threatened to launch a public protest in the first week of June to fight the stagnation. In response to the agitation, civic officials blamed the delay on recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids conducted at the business premises of municipal contractors.
Parallel Desilting at Dhoka Mohalla
With the cleanup now underway, parallel desilting efforts have also kicked off at Dhoka Mohalla, where managing heavy rainwater runoff remains a major infrastructural hurdle. The civic body maintains that it is on track to clear both arterial channels before seasonal downpours submerge the area.
Stay updated with the latest Ludhiana news. Download the TOI App.
