Admn, MC wake up from slumber as Sidhwan pollution reaches NGT

Ludhiana: Within days of four residents approaching the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over rising pollution in Sidhwan Canal, the authorities woke up from slumber and conducted a joint inspection around the water body.
They decided to take a number of measures to protect the canal, which had become a waste dumping spot for residents.
While the authorities will have to wait till January 2023 to clean up the canal when the water flow will be stopped, the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) has decided to launch an extensive challan drive near canal banks to check litterbugs from polluting the water body.
The authorities also decided to increase mesh protection on both sides of canal banks and install CCTV cameras near Lohara bridge to catch hold of offenders as trial. There is mesh cover on 3-km-long stretch, and the MC will soon float tenders to cover another 11 kms of the canal.
The MC will also ask the irrigation department to get an FIR lodged against repeat offenders.
On Friday, Ludhiana deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik, MC commissioner Shena Aggarwal, AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi along with MC and irrigation department officials visited Sidhwan Canal banks near MC zone D office in Sarabha Nagar. The petitioners — Kuldeep Khaira, Kapil Arora and Dr Amandeep Bains — were also called to join the officials.
MC zonal commissioner Jasdev Sekhon said, “In the next few days, farmers will require water for irrigation of wheat crop, so it would not be possible to stop the water supply in the canal. In January, we will get around 30 days for the exercise. We will then launch a drive from Barewal till Lohara to clean up the canal.” He said they will start challaning, besides taking a few other steps.
One of the petitioners, Kapil Arora said, “The officials claimed that they will start a challan drive, install mesh, but will have to wait till January next year to clean up the canal. We want everything in the form of a concrete plan as the city cannot afford one more Buddha Nullah.” He said they have moved the NGT so that the authorities pay needed attention towards the problem and save the water body in time.
MC commissioner Shena Aggarwal said the officials concerned have been directed to install CCTV cameras on bridges constructed over the canal and points where garbage is usually dumped. The cameras will be installed for surveillance purpose and will be connected with the integrated command and control centre (ICCC) of the civic body. The civic body is working on the tender process of installing chain link fencing, which will be taken up at a cost of around Rs 6 crore. The MC will also recommend FIRs against the violators and hold meetings with religious leaders to spread awareness and stop residents from dumping waste in the water body.
Four residents of Ludhiana — Kuldeep Singh Khaira, Kapil Arora, Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Vikas Arora — had moved the NGT with a plea to prevent Sidhwan Canal from becoming another Buddha Nullah. The chief secretary of Punjab, DC, PPCB, XEN of irrigation department, MC and GLADA were made respondents in the petition. A few residents had even staged a protest over rising pollution in the canal on November 13.