Ludhiana: Local bodies minister Harjot Singh Bains conducted a surprise inspection across Ludhiana on Friday to review the state government’s ongoing sanitation drive. While the minister met with some field workers, high drama erupted outside the municipal corporation Zone A office when police blocked a group of protesting sanitation employees trying to breach his security cover, leading to mild jostling.
Protests Over Privatisation
The snubbed protesters, members of the Sangharsh Committee, expressed anger over the civic body’s increasing privatisation of road sweeping and waste management. They later argued with mayor Inderjit Kaur and corporation officials after the minister departed without hearing them.
Field Inspections and Complaints
Earlier in the day, Bains toured areas including Model Town, Rishi Nagar, Samrala Chowk, and Chaura Bazaar to check static compactors and cleanliness. During field meetings, sweepers complained that over 1,000 employees had not received salaries for two months, compactors malfunctioned, and residents routinely dumped waste immediately after roads were swept.
When the minister questioned the salary delays, officials explained that these temporary employees could not be regularised under state policy because they were overage.
Review Meeting and Announcements
Following a review meeting with the mayor and senior officials, Bains addressed the media, setting a June 30 deadline to complete all pending road patchwork and sewer cleaning. He noted that 47% of a prioritised 49-kilometre stretch (out of a total 220 kilometers of sewer lines) had already been desilted, and announced that ₹172 crore worth of roads are currently being built in the industrial town.
Waste Management Overhaul
To overhaul waste management, Bains announced plans to launch QR code-based door-to-door garbage collection and install compressed biogas (CBG) plants across 17 cities to process waste, while appealing to the public to stop littering.
Addressing Civic Failures
Addressing civic failures, Bains contacted Chandigarh officials to resolve a prepaid meter issue that has left local streetlights and tubewells dysfunctional, promising full restoration by Saturday.
Furthermore, the minister ordered the corporation to clear stagnant rainwater and garbage along NHAI highways passing through Ludhiana if the authority fails to do so. Bains stated that the civic body will bill the NHAI for the cleanup costs and impose financial penalties for non-performance to protect the municipal corporation’s public image.
