Storm water drainage system for Clock Tower area in Ludhiana

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22

The Municipal Corporation has started the work to install a storm water drainage system near Clock Tower to resolve the years-old problem of waterlogging. The drainage pipes have arrived on the project site, according to an official.

In the absence of a proper drainage system, the commuters were forced to face a lot of inconvenience due to major waterlogging near Clock Tower during rainy days. Many times, vehicles developed snags in knee-deep water.

Many times water entered the shops at Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Market near Clock Tower in the absence of proper drainage system. The MC had announced the installation of the drainage system last year.

To resolve the problem of waterlogging, the MC will connect the storm water drainage pipes with an old drain near Bhadaur House here. However, there is also a need to clean the drain wherein a huge amount of trash is being dumped.

A shopkeeper near Clock Tower said, “Since the Elevated Road was constructed, we have been facing the problem of major waterlogging every year during the rainy days. The MC should complete the storm drainage project before the upcoming rainy season.”

Superintending Engineer, MC, Rajinder Singh said the work had been started on the site and was expected to be completed within a month. He said they would conduct most of the work during the curfew hours and night hours so that the commuters didn’t face any inconvenience. “There will be no need to divert the traffic as only a portion of the road is to be dug up for the installation of the drainage pipes,” he added.

MC to dig up recently

re-carpeted road

Under the project, the MC will install the storm water drainage line on a stretch between Rekhi Cinema Chowk and an old nullah (drain) near Bhadaur House. The underground drainage pipes will pass through Clock Tower Chowk and then connected with the drain. The MC’s B&R branch had earlier got a space left on the stretch between Rekhi Cinema Chowk and Clock Tower Chowk for the installation of the drainage pipes. But, a portion of road between Clock Tower Chowk and the drain was recently re-carpeted.

Now, the MC will dig up the recently re-carpeted portion for the installation of the pipes up to the drain.

Meanwhile, a group of BJP leaders staged a protest and blamed the MC for wasting public money due to improper planning. They questioned as to why the MC re-carpeted the portion of the road before the installation of the storm water drainage pipes.

Officials of the O&M branch said they had informed the B&R branch regarding the storm water drainage system. Superintending Engineer (O&M) Rajinder Singh said the storm water drainage project was very important for the area. He said the re-carpeting was done on a very small portion and the remaining stretch was left as it was.