Residents dig up roads to connect sewers to main line in Sahnewal

In a brazen attempt to unlawfully connect their house sewers with the main sewer line of the municipal Council, some residents of Sahnewal have dug up roads, thus damaging public property and inviting trouble for commuters. The worst part is that it is happening under the very nose of the authorities concerned, but the latter has shown least concern to check this practice till date.

“The situation is such that in the absence of any check on the part of the authorities concerned, the people have made it a usual habit and every second person tries to imitate his neighbour and does not want to lag behind in this race for illegal connections,” a local resident said.

“We have tried to approach the authorities concerned regarding the issue of illegal connections and the consequent damage to roads and streets, but to no avail. The council never bothers to look into the issue and thus the exercise goes on without any fear of the authorities,” shared a resident of the town.

Some residents, however, have their own story to narrate. They told this correspondent that they have been forced to take such an extreme step. “The council has closed all outlet drains along the houses and provided no sewer outlet at all in some of the wards. Resultantly, the sewer water, finding no outlet, begins to collect in the streets, thus creating unlivable conditions for the residents as well as passersby. This issue of sewer water accumulation on the roads and the non-connection of sewers to the main pipe was brought to the notice of the council several times. As the latter failed to find a solution, the residents arranged their own outlets, without which it had become next to impossible to stay in their houses,” added a local.

Meanwhile, Ludhiana East SDM Jasleen Bhullar said that the Executive Officer would be directed to look into the issue. “Further, I may order a town-wide review of sewerage and strict action will be taken against defaulters who have illegally connected sewers with the main line,” she said. Further, when asked if the council has given any such permission, the SDM stated that no such permission can be granted for digging of the roads for connecting sewer lines with the main sewer.

Ludhiana