Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Hits Roadblock as Silt Mounds Remain Unattended
Even as the Municipal Corporation continues to assert progress in the rejuvenation of Buddha Dariya, significant mounds of silt and waste extracted from the drain persist unattended along its banks in Ludhiana. While cleaning operations are actively underway at multiple stretches, the civic body has failed to lift the removed waste material, resulting in substantial heaps of silt accumulating on both sides of the drain at various points.
Environmental and Health Hazards Emerge
At several locations, the silt has dried up completely, and winds are now carrying fine particles into the air, sparking fresh environmental concerns for local residents. Officials, however, maintain that their immediate priority remains the cleaning of the drain itself, with plans to commence lifting of the waste material at a later stage.
AAP MP Balbir Singh Seechewal Raises Alarm
Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, who has been overseeing the drain's cleaning efforts for over a year, has formally raised this critical issue with the authorities. He penned a detailed request letter to civic officials, urging them to ensure that silt is lifted simultaneously with the cleaning process to prevent it from re-entering the drain or posing serious health hazards.
Seechewal noted that while the initial drive focused on areas outside the city limits, operations have now expanded to cover the entire city stretch of the drain. He observed that although machines are successfully extracting silt from within the drain, the material is merely being dumped on the sides without subsequent removal, prompting him to write to the authorities once again.
Residents Express Growing Frustration
Local residents are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the current situation. Ishant Verma of Kundanpuri highlighted that it has become routine for the civic body to clear the drain internally while leaving the waste piled up along the banks, from where it inevitably slips back into the water during rains or through natural erosion.
Verma pointed out that while garbage inflow into the drain has reduced compared to earlier times, silt has now taken its place as the primary waste material. He termed the entire situation a blatant wastage of public money, emphasizing that machines consume substantial diesel for cleaning operations, and the effort becomes futile if the removed waste is not lifted simultaneously.
MC Engineer Acknowledges Issue
When contacted, MC superintending engineer Ekjot Singh acknowledged the existing problem but stated that cleaning was currently being conducted at an accelerated pace. He added that the lifting of waste material had already begun in some areas and would be expedited further in the coming days.
Dhoka Mohalla Situation Remains Unresolved
Congress councillor Arun Sharma reported that the situation near Dhoka Mohalla continues to be problematic. He claimed that due to ongoing bridge construction near the Madhopuri bridge, the water level in Buddha Dariya has not receded as expected. Consequently, the seasonal drain near the cremation ground continues to overflow into adjacent areas.
Sharma stated that black water has once again started flowing onto the roads, significantly worsening living conditions for residents, while authorities have yet to address this persistent issue effectively.
Smart City Fencing Damaged
In another concerning development, chain link fencing installed under the Smart City Mission has fallen into the drain at multiple locations following heavy rainfall on Friday. Local sources indicated that the fencing is now visibly submerged inside the water, yet officials have not taken note of the damage or initiated repair work.
The cumulative effect of these issues raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project and highlights the need for more coordinated efforts between cleaning and waste removal operations to achieve sustainable results.
