Connecting passages raise stink in Sector 17

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12

Stinking water on the roof of connecting passages in Sector 17 has become a nuisance for traders and visitors, who have raised questions over the “faulty design”.

The Municipal Corporation has started the construction of connecting passages between showrooms in Sector 17 at a cost of over Rs 4 crore. The new passages are being constructed after dismantling the old ones, which had worn out over time and posed a danger.

However, traders in the market said despite spending crores of rupees, the MC had failed to provide drainage on the roof.

Subhash Kataria, a trader, said the MC had failed to provide drainage on the roof of the passages, which had resulted in the accumulation of water.

He said rainwater had not only become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, but would also lead to erosion of iron and concrete of the passages over time.

He said it was due to the same reason that the passages were damaged earlier. The MC had dismantled many passages after they posed a threat to people.

JPS Kalra, another trader, said no provision for lighting had been made in the passages so far. He said when the issue was raised before MC officials, they carried out “ad hoc work” by laying wires in the open. Besides, the plinth of the passages had also increased due to which rainwater was entering their shops.

MC officials claimed there was nothing wrong with the design. They said drainage would be provided soon. The tender for wiring had also been floated.

Manoj Kumar Bansal, Chief Engineer of the Municipal Corporation, said he would look into the matter.