No check on dumping of waste in green belt along canal

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 13

There seems to be absolutely no check on the construction waste being dumped in the green belt areas and authorities, it seems, prefers to look the other way.

A green belt on Ishmeet Singh Marg, along the Sidhwan Canal, is crying for attention. Solid as well as construction waste is being dumped in the area near Model Town Extension. Even some encroachments have reportedly come up in the green belt. Residents want the civic body to ensure development of the green belt area.

They said debris and waste construction material was being lifted from various city areas and dumped here as the civic body was doing nothing to stop this nuisance. Even they have complained to the MC in this regard.

Arvind Sharma, a city resident, said the green belt was turning into a construction waste dumping ground due to the negligence of the MC. Instead of planting saplings, the MC has even failed to stop dumping of waste there, he said.

“The Municipal Corporation should ensure the removal of encroachments and collected waste from the green belt area. I have also complained to the authorities a multiple times, but to no avail. The MC should develop this green belt in the same manner as it has developed the leisure valley, so that people can take the benefit of it,” he said. 

Satish Sachdeva, a senior citizen, said: “It is very unfortunate that the green belt is being turned into a dumping ground once again. Such kind of nuisance should be stopped. Our city is known as one of the most polluted cities. When it is a green belt, why it is in a shambles? The civic body should develop this green belt at the earliest.”

Earlier, MC officials had claimed to conduct cleanliness in the area, but to no avail. MC horticulture wing’s Executive Engineer Surinder Kumar was unavailable for comment.