While most Ludhiana residents hope for good rainfall, people in Dhoka Mohalla are praying for no rain in the coming days. Their concern is not the weather but the overflowing black drain water that has been entering streets and creating unhygienic conditions in the locality.
Social media live highlights issue
The issue came to the fore again on Thursday night when area councillor Arun Sharma, along with local residents, went live on social media to highlight the situation. They alleged that if the problem was not resolved soon, they will launch a protest against the authorities.
Residents said the problem had persisted for over two years and had become worse over the past few months. They claimed that since February, sludge and drain water had been accumulating in the streets even without rainfall, making it difficult for people to move around. During the monsoon, they fear that the situation could worsen and filthy water may again enter their homes.
Residents demand permanent solution
According to residents, they have repeatedly raised the issue with the Municipal Corporation and had also staged a protest in the past, demanding a permanent solution. However, they alleged that despite repeated complaints, the problem continues every rainy season.
Councillor Arun Sharma visited the affected area on Thursday night and showed the condition of the road near Buddha Dariya through a live video. He claimed that water had already started accumulating on the road and blamed the temporary closure near the drain for slowing the flow of water. Residents demanded that the authorities should find a permanent solution before the area starts getting heavy rains, saying they should not have to suffer every monsoon.
Ultimatum to authorities
Sharma said they would give the authorities 15 days to resolve the issue. If no concrete action was taken, residents would be left with no option but to hold a protest.
Responding to the allegations, Municipal Corporation nodal officer Kamal Ram said he was not aware of the situation that developed during the night but assured that civic teams were working in the area. He said efforts were being made to stop drain water from entering streets and residential areas.
He said the temporary closure had been put in place to prevent untreated wastewater from directly flowing into the Buddha Dariya and said the civic body was trying to balance environmental concerns with public convenience.
