Ludhiana, a city often recognized for its economic prosperity, is currently grappling with a severe sanitation crisis. Heaps of uncollected garbage have accumulated at street corners across the city, emitting a foul odour and raising concerns about public health. The situation has persisted for six days as sanitation workers continue their strike, with some reportedly awaiting an opportunity to present their grievances directly to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his upcoming visit to inaugurate a School of Eminence.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that residents are expressing fears of a potential disease outbreak due to the unsanitary conditions. Municipal Commissioner Ojaswi Alankar stated that teams have been formed to take stringent action against sanitation workers obstructing garbage collection. Alankar also mentioned that the garbage compactors were expected to resume operations shortly, asserting that some workers were preventing the lifting of waste.
The current crisis has been exacerbated by recent rainfall in the city, which transformed roads into waterlogged areas and significantly disrupted daily life. The downpour led to the inundation of homes and commercial establishments, causing traffic congestion and accidents. Compounding the issue, the city’s aging sewer lines have overflowed, mixing with the mounting piles of garbage that sanitation workers have refused to clear.
Ludhiana, recognized as one of India’s prominent industrial hubs, is known for its significant concentration of wealthy individuals and major business houses. Despite its substantial contribution to the state and national economy, the city has found itself overwhelmed by basic civic challenges following a few hours of rain.
Many industrialists and business professionals who commute daily through the city’s most affected areas, including Transport Nagar, Dholewal Chowk, Pratap Chowk, R.K. Road, Ferozepur Road, and Gill Road, are experiencing the brunt of the civic breakdown. While Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives are present, there appears to have been insufficient investment in improving the city’s drainage infrastructure or ensuring safer commuting conditions.
The stark contrast between Ludhiana’s economic output and its struggle with fundamental civic amenities has become increasingly evident. Residents have come to dread the monsoon season annually due to persistent waterlogging issues that disrupt normal life. Reports suggest that approximately 90 percent of the city’s sewerage system is choked.
Kuldeep Singh Khaira, a member of the Public Action Committee and an RTI activist, described the recurring ordeal faced by residents during monsoons. He stated that for two to three months every year, rainwater infiltrates homes, often mixing with sewage and creating a pervasive stench. The widespread presence of garbage and the absence of an effective drainage system further aggravate the situation, he added.
Areas such as Talab Bazaar, Gur Mandi, Saban Bazaar, Kesar Ganj Mandi Road, Chaura Bazaar, Maleri Gali, Rupa Mistri Gali, Sagla Wala Shivala Road, Chaudi Sadak, Pratap Bazaar, Town Hall Road, and the vicinity of the Municipal Corporation headquarters are reported to have suffered significant financial losses during the recent rainfall.
Despite its designation as a Smart City in 2016, Ludhiana has evidently failed to develop an adequate stormwater drainage system. The existing infrastructure, built decades ago, is unable to cope with the city’s growing population of approximately 35 lakh. Efforts to address the issue have often involved laying new pipes, which prove insufficient to manage the volume of water.
Data from the Smart City project indicates that Rs 500 crore each was provided by the Centre and the Punjab Government, totaling Rs 1,000 crore, all of which has reportedly been expended. Ludhiana, along with Jalandhar and Amritsar, is among the designated ‘smart cities’ in Punjab.
The city’s mayor, Inderjit Kaur, acknowledged the ongoing waterlogging problem but suggested that conditions this year, despite the sanitation workers’ strike, were relatively better. She attributed delays in the stormwater sewer project to the state government’s inability to secure necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from central agencies like the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The mayor also indicated that installing storm sewers in congested city areas was not considered viable.
A significant portion of the city falls under the jurisdiction of state government agencies like the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), neither of which has effectively addressed the waterlogging issue. The problem is further compounded by frequent road digging for utility pipeline installations, which damages existing infrastructure and hinders long-term drainage projects.
Former BJP Councilor Inder Aggarwal commented that stormwater sewers laid in a few areas during the previous Congress regime are now in poor condition, especially after rains. Senior Congress leader and former councilor Parminder Mehta conceded that a few hours of rain had resulted in flood-like conditions across the city, with sewage-laden rainwater entering homes and shops. Mehta questioned whether the Municipal Corporation obtains all mandatory permissions for its works, including tree felling, construction, and road recarpeting, and whether proper approvals are sought for these activities.
He alleged that a primary reason for the delay in constructing a storm-water drain system was the focus on cleaning the Buddha Nullah, a project on which substantial funds have reportedly been spent by vested interests.
The Chenab Times News Desk